The NFL responds to Crowder/Light situation

by Matty I on Nov 26, 2008 4:14 PM EST in News Comment 25 comments

As you know by now, both Channing Crowder and Matt Light have been fined $15,000 for their little altercation on Sunday. But this has set off a firestorm all over the internet regarding how these 2 punishments are the same.

Dolphins blogs/websites all over are filled with angry mobs who don't understand how Light gets the same penalty as Crowder even though Light threw (and landed) 2 or 3 punches at Crowder's head while holding onto Channing's hair. Crowder, on the other hand, did nothing but run away once he got out of Light's grasp, never throwing a punch. Our community is up in arms over this. Readers commenting at PFT also don't get it. Even the South Florida media doesn't understand it.

So I sent an e-mail to the NFL's Senior Vice President of Public Relations, Greg Aiello, to ask him what went into this decision to make both penalties the same even though it was Light throwing the punches - not Crowder. Here's what Aiello responded with:

Matt,
Both players were fined for a verbal and physical altercation. Our office fully reviewed the facts by talking to both players and others with knowledge of what happened. That review determined that Channing Crowder bore responsibility for verbally instigating the altercation in violation of our on-field policies.

I really do appreciate Greg taking the time to respond to me. But I don't necessarily agree with the thought process here. It seems like the NFL is saying that it's just as bad to "verbally instigate" the fight as it is to physically throw punches. It must fall under the logic that if Channing doesn't instigate the fight, then Light never throws his punches.

I guess us fans and the NFL will just have to agree to disagree on this one. But again, it's mighty nice of Aiello to respond to a blogger like myself. At least the NFL cares somewhat about what we think - even if we disagree.

Thoughts on this?

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Sticks and stones...

But words will never hurt me.

Frequently wrong, but never in doubt.
Phyrmun

by phyrmun on Nov 26, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yea it was nice of him...

since this dude is paid to put of fires allday….nice of him to do his job and feed us the same bs story. thanks dude.

try telling the police “verbal assault”…is the same as “physical assault”.

if you get in a fight in a club and someones cell phone camera catches you your gonna get a major fine..didnt Porter get like 75,000 for that casino fight? But if you fight on the nfl field and millions of people see it you get 15,000 and a “go get em guys..dont do it again”.

"This is one of the most competitive businesses there is . . . It's my life. It's my blood. It's how I'm measured."
---BILL PARCELLS

by Rzayo24 on Nov 26, 2008 4:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Unbelievable

Now, I love Joey Porter, but his smack talk is ongoing and I’m sure worse than what Channing said. He hasn’t been fined for that. I think it was absolutely rediculous that Channing (first of all) got a penalty, (second of all) got ejected and now a FINE? You would think that the people reviewing this would have some sort of brain and realize that what channing did deserved none of the above. He might as well have ripped off Light’s helmet, thrown some blows and then kicked him in the nuts. Would have been the same result. I think Crowder tried to contain himself and should get some credit for that. F**K the Patsies, all their fans and the refs!

by phishbowl2003 on Nov 26, 2008 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts?

I’ll give you a thought. All these people are IMBECILES.

I don’t care what a player says. Its doesn’t give the other player the right to go fisting off on another player’s head without a helmet. Many words are said on the football field that deosn’t result in fights.

I GURANTEE if it was vise versa Channign would have gotten 4 games at least. AND ESPN would be all over this like it was “unacceptable” or “Why is this happening in Miami” or even “Is Tony losing control of his team?”.

BS like that/ F*ck the NFL…especially the commish (I’m tired of his crap already). And F*ck most of the national media, especially ESPN, and their d@mn bias reporting.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down?

by Neo on Nov 26, 2008 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well said

If Channing was the aggressor, and Light had his helmet off, and Channing threw punches, he’d be gone to Pacman-World, suspended for the remainder of the season and begging Rog for reinstatement. The fact that it was a Patriots player I think plays into the penalty. Still shocked that Bernard Pollard wasn’t kicked out of football for hurting Brady…

"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God

by Little Nicky 21 on Nov 26, 2008 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

double well said!

and just exactly how criticizing referees worse than fighting on the field? It makes NO friggin sense, and I don’t give a crap what Aiello says. He is just a mouthpiece anyway.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Nov 26, 2008 6:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What a message

Un-freaking-believable. These NFL execs must be Patsie’s fans. How can you say it’s the same to say something and to take matters into your own hands? I’m sure NFL players only ask each other about their grandmothers while on the field. What a bunch of BS.

by erdelfin on Nov 26, 2008 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's water over the dam.....

I can’t control it, so I’m not getting worked up about it. All I want is the Fins to get back on the winner streak. Pats cheat, Joey’s out of control, Channing got the shaft is all meaningless chatter. But, what is not meaningless is how this team can pull it together for this Sunday. What I don’t want to see thes guys playing down to the level of a supposed weaker team.

What if I say I'm not like the other?
What if I say I'm not just another one of you plays?
You're the pretender
What if I say I will never surrender. --The Foos
GRIFFIN

by Ohiofinfan4life on Nov 26, 2008 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Unreal.....

It’s great that Aiello took the time to respond, but it sounds like he’s just saying what he’s been told to say. As I type this, I haven’t seen nothing on any of the ESPN shows regarding this matter, only a scroll at the bottom that said both were fined, and neither will be suspended. Adding another scroll that Light won’t miss the big match up vs. the Steelers……………wierd…

Dust it off boys, and lets hope the Dolphins learn from this. Lets kicks some ass, and win with class, give them nothing bad to say by the way we do things in Dolphinland

"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08

by HuskerDolphin on Nov 26, 2008 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It's called cheating.

The fix is in, once again, for the Pats.

THE NFL IS FIXED!!!

------------
"Skin that smokewagon and see what happens!!!"

by RVZ77 on Nov 26, 2008 6:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i don't believe that bro

I think there are problems…….but I don’t/won’t believe its fixed. Theres no way they could get away with it.

p.s. love the icon…. : )

"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08

by HuskerDolphin on Nov 26, 2008 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the bottom line is this is a joke

shit talking goes on every play of every game, this is completely unfair that they get the same punishment

i know this is a stretch, but remember in the world cup when the defender told zidane something really profane, and then the headbutt lead to the red card

i dont think soccer retaliated against the defender

i know thats not a good example, but the bottom line is that words and fists are not equal in this situation, i wonder how many other people have been fined for what was said on the football field to other players

probably not too many…or none

i take your signatures and use them as away messages

by ihavebadknees on Nov 26, 2008 6:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

well said.

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Nov 26, 2008 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

MISERABLE

From what I saw it looked like Light should have got a suspension. I just saw Crowder push him. That shouldn’t equal three punches and a girly hair pull. Pretty MISERABLE!!!

GEtSICK 4 JC

by GEtSICK13 on Nov 26, 2008 6:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

pretty remarkable

that you can hold someone by the hair and pound on them.

But hey, the Pats really need the guy to get into the playoffs. I wonder if it’ll come back to bite them. Since there is trash talking all the time, other than the 15K, seems like every game multiple players could rip off guys helmets and do the same. Hey, if it was Brady’s pretty face, they wouldn’t have a problem with it would they?

by Lovejoy on Nov 26, 2008 7:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i think they should be put in a UFC cage

settle it there…ok so in ‘light’ of all this, the new term for ‘queenielittle&^%$sucker’ shall be, henceforth, ‘mattlight’…. any objections?

"I'm not near as deep and complicated as people think" ~Mike Tyson~

by Krab on Nov 26, 2008 7:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol.....none

"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08

by HuskerDolphin on Nov 26, 2008 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

done and done

so a mattlighthole is the new go-to insult for me lol

by Little Nicky 21 on Nov 26, 2008 8:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i call shenanigans

IAMLEGEND

by woomar on Nov 26, 2008 8:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Someone correct me if I’m wrong. Wasn’t Joey’s bullshyt casino fight during the OFF season? And he was fined 60K? This is ridiculous. LIke someone else said, smack is talked all during the game by most everyone. So Light can “lose control” and pull Crowder’s hair like a pu——- and get a 15k fine? Joey has to realize that he is and will be a target player and just try to maintain the passion in a controlled manner. It hurt me just to type that b.s.
5 more games. Let’s ALL take it down notch because we’re on the road for 4(?) of the 5.

by jpfan on Nov 27, 2008 7:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

all players talk trash

"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"

-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic

by Patssuck456 on Nov 27, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't get it!!

No comments!!

Ps Next time, beat the SHI**T out of ANY panties, it is just 15grands

I will see the Dolphins win a SUPER BOWL before i die(21 years and counting)

by Aleta on Nov 27, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Proud Buffalo fan here...

And I rarely take sides with Fish fans, but this is the most infuriating thing I have seen from NFL officials, ever. And one more thing: no one at Pats Pulpit is showing dissapointment in thier boy. I had to post on that site to see if ANY of those guys could admit how sad this is.

And good on you; some of the attitude on this thread is ‘shake it off, don’t stoop.’ I totally agree. The Fish are on the way up (damn it,) and you all should realize how bad this makes the Pats look. Im glad Miami smoked the pats in Foxborough. I hope the Bills can finally take them down week 18.

Sweet home Orchard Park.

by thurman on Nov 28, 2008 1:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

you're a good fan

Thurman. Just so you know, I think thats really cool of you posting on here with your thoughts. At least we can agree that the Pats need to be bottom feeders in the AFC East again, they already are as far as doing whats right and fair play. At least back in the 90’s when the Bills and Dolphins were heated rivals, you knew there would be a good game played without cheap shots and b.s. stuff like what the Patriots pull. Good luck and take care man.

Just so you know, I had a poll here on “who do you hate most in the AFC East?” , your Bills finished a distant 3rd behind the Jets and Pats, who were pretty much neck and neck. : )

"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08

by HuskerDolphin on Nov 28, 2008 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

i like to think of myself as pretty fair. sometimes things don’t go your way, but there is nothing to cry “foul” about… and sometimes you get a lucky break and you have to acknowledge that luck was involved… i would be fine with Pats fans saying, “geez, Lightweight was in the wrong and got a huge break there!” I am not okay with the BS involved with making their little story “Crowder is a thug, it was his fault, and get what he deserved.”

Thurman, I will be rooting with every ounce of energy for your Bills when they play the Pats, and you can probably come back here after they win and get Congrats from all of us here. :)

-LCFF

by LeftCoastFinFan on Nov 29, 2008 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs