Think about being suspended for a week, a month, or longer. There is ample violence in many sports without ever breaking a rule or pushing the envelope. Jocks need not create extra ugliness. Suspensions are the answer, not fines. Indeed, there must be limits, otherwise overhyped linebackers might soon be rolling hand grenades beneath a rival team's bench.
Jocks are as answerable to real law as bricklayers, school teachers, journalists and belly dancers.
As much as I semidistrust some at the commissioner level, it's even shakier to have jock shenanigans being blended in real court with all the murderers, drug dealers, bank robbers and spousal abusers. Those are far uglier games. St. Petersburg Times.