The season-long suspension of New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma pretty much is unprecedented in the NFL.
There have been plenty of one-year suspensions (and some longer) for substance-abuse violations. But Vilma’s suspension ranks as one of the longest in history.
With help from the Associated Press, by way of ESPN Stats & Information, here’s a list of the longest non-substance-abuse suspensions in NFL history:
Art Schlichter, Life, suspended 1 year for gambling in 1983, never reinstated
Merle Hapes, 8 years, suspended for conversing with known gambler in 1946, reinstated in 1954
Frank Filchock, 3 years, suspended for conversing with known gambler in 1947, reinstated in 1950
Michael Vick, 2 years, 2 games, suspended indefinitely in 2007 after pleading guilty to role in dogfighting
Plaxico Burress, 2 years, suspended for duration of jail term in 2009 after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon
Donte’ Stallworth, 1 year, suspended for 1 year after pleading guilty to DUI manslaughter in 2009
Paul Hornung, 1 year, suspended 1 year for gambling in 1963
Alex Karras, 1 year, suspended 1 year for gambling in 1963
Adam Jones, 1 year, suspended 1 year for violating Personal Conduct Policy in 2007
Those suspensions all involved off-field actions. Here is the list of the longest NFL suspensions for on-field incidents:
2006: Albert Haynesworth suspended five games after stomping on head of Cowboys center Andre Gurode. Gurode was not wearing a helmet at the time.
2011: Ndamukong Suh suspended two games after stomping on right arm of Packers lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith.
1986: Charles Martin suspended two games for body-slamming Bears QB Jim McMahon to turf.