Haynesworth sentencing; league & fan response; legal & NFL discipline (merged)

[Ring 6]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

You must not pay much attention to the news, plea bargains are frequently offered in cases where there's good evidence to 1) save the government the expense of a trial and 2) because juries are sometimes unpredictable.

Turning around what you said, I don't think Albert would have accepted a plea bargain if he knew he was innocent.

I'm not jumping in the middle of this nightmare, except to point out one thing.

You are basing your entire argument on the motivation of the prosecution to plea bargain.
Read what you said again, and look at it from Haynesworths prespective.
If he really didn't do it, but juries are unpredictable, and trials are expensive and time consuming, why wouldn't he plea bargain just to get it over with?
I'm pretty sure your response would be that there is some kind of dishonor in admitting you did something you didnt do, but we you really have no idea what Haynesworth's morality on that subject and whether he gives 2 cents about what people think about this are.

Just a bit of advice. If you are going to base everything on the motiviation of one side, you should consider applying similar motivation to the other side before believing it proves something.

I don't know or frankly care what happened, but for you to believe you can be certain what did is arrogant, unrealistic and clearly biased.

 

[DefenseRules]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Patriots fans we are all going to have differing opinions on Mr. Haynesworth. I personally, don't like him or trust him. His reputation precedes him as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully he focuses on football. If he helps us win, great. But this is one Patriot that I will have a hard time rooting for. Who knows? Maybe this will all work out for the best.

 

[MassPats38]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Did the victim allege she was 'molested?' That's a strong term that I've never seen used to describe what AH pled no contest to.

I don't think she ever used that term. Instead that is likely fans reciting what they read in interpretations in the newspaper (which could be based on police interpretations of what the woman said). The Boston.com article quotes Haynesworth as agreeing with the statement of facts offered by the government, which as you well know as a lawyer defines the allegations of a new charge (simple assault) and may have nothing to do with the initial police allegations. Those are the only facts admitted by Haynesworth in this case in the eyes of the law. People outraged about what they think happened based on allegations and newspaper reports apparently don't understand that point. Until I hear what the government offered as facts in support of this new charge, I am not jumping to conclusions.

I looked at the D.C. Superior Court docket online a little while ago, and the last entry was 4/26 so it hadn't been updated to include the new charge or today's details. It sounds like a deferred adjudication that goes away if he does his community service and abides by the probation terms.

 

[PushnPencils]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

For those who missed it. AH entering the courthouse....with a message.


Albert Haynesworth: "Go Patriots" | NBC Washington

 

[BradyFTW!]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Lets be honest here...
if he were a Jet you would want him hung by his balls or castrated.

Sometimes Hyprocrisy runs wild at Patsfans.com

The guy has been a thug and a pervert and wearing the uniform of the Patriots does not promote him to Boy Scout.

He isn't here to become the Pope and noone will confuse Albert Haynesworth with Mother Theresa

He is here with his pervertion and thugness on hand to help us win games,....nothing more,nothing less.

You must have missed the thread about Kendrick Ellis where a whole lot of us, based on what little was known about the case, suggested that he shouldn't be punished by the league unless more compelling evidence came to light.

 

[BradyFTW!]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

I'm not jumping in the middle of this nightmare, except to point out one thing.

You are basing your entire argument on the motivation of the prosecution to plea bargain.
Read what you said again, and look at it from Haynesworths prespective.
If he really didn't do it, but juries are unpredictable, and trials are expensive and time consuming, why wouldn't he plea bargain just to get it over with?
I'm pretty sure your response would be that there is some kind of dishonor in admitting you did something you didnt do, but we you really have no idea what Haynesworth's morality on that subject and whether he gives 2 cents about what people think about this are.

Just a bit of advice. If you are going to base everything on the motiviation of one side, you should consider applying similar motivation to the other side before believing it proves something.

I don't know or frankly care what happened, but for you to believe you can be certain what did is arrogant, unrealistic and clearly biased.

100% right. Even if he is innocent, turning down that plea deal would be insanely risky, to put it nicely.

 

[Pujo]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Am I 100% certain that he grabbed her breasts? No. 90%.

But hopefully he won't do it again and it'll eventually become history.

 

[Rob0729]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

A positive sign of Haynesworth not being suspended is that Aquib Talib and Kenny Britt are meeting with Goodell this week to discuss their incidents. No word that the Haynesworth is meeting with him. Usually the player meets with Goodell before a suspension is given and I doubt that Goodell will suspend anyone for an offseason incident once the season starts. It's only fair to the team to give them time for alternatives.

 

[rufcut]

Re: Haynesworth - Impartial Jury?

The waitress was looking for a larger tip.......cough it up Big Al..

It's tough being a celebrity.....

Can you imagine if one of her regulars did that to her...she'd slap his hand, laugh and say something like " The only thing fresher in here is the coffee"...:rocker:

She was clearing tables at the time. Both hands were full.

I know he's on our team, but let's not blame the lady. He shouldn't have put his hands on her breasts.

 

[Ring 6]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Am I 100% certain that he grabbed her breasts? No. 90%.

But hopefully he won't do it again and it'll eventually become history.

You realize how foolish this makes you look right?

 

[larryo]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

For those who missed it. AH entering the courthouse....with a message.


Albert Haynesworth: "Go Patriots" | NBC Washington

Love it. Go Pariots!

 

[PushnPencils]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

When to comes to my sports teams, I unfortunately lose a sense of reality like most fans. I turn into a juvenile.

I'm pretty confident that AH may be an unrefined, narcissitic, lazy pig bully.
There is a pretty good chance that he did grab her inappropriately and acted lke a completely disgusting human being.

BUT I SO MUCH WANT TO SEE HIM ANNIHILATE A FEW QBs in a Pats jersey.

I wish AH......the person never existed......I wish there was only AH...the freak of nature football player that we pulled out of a sarcophagus every Sunday.

I want to see what a front seven with him, VW, AC, EM, JM, BS and RN will look like.

That's the juvenile part. For those of you who lack that component, I envy you.

You're better people.

Pat's football is my escape from reality. unfortunately it's filled with very real people.

 

[PatsBoy12]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

That's not bad at all from strictly a fan's POV. I'm glad that he'll be able to be there from start to finish this season.

 

[Froob]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

Love it. Go Pariots!

****, I'm starting to like this guy. Hope he turns his attitude around and becomes a good citizen.

 

[PlainOldEd]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

I am, and if one of my employees ever sexually assaulted someone, I'd fire them (and HR would support me), without any regard for how the criminal case turned out, if our internal company investigation sustained the charges.

If your HR department consulted with your Law department they wouldn't support you..... unless they like long expensive wrongfull termination suits.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

From the Patriots perspective I see mostly good here.

The incident is behind him. Old news. BB will say time to learn & move on.

Albert is under the gun with the law for 18 months, forcing him to tread carefully. Reinforcement of the team discipline message I'm certain BB has made quite plain to him. This only helps the team and BB's management of the player.

Were he to be suspended say 1, 2 or 4 (really unlikely) games, the Pats will get a temporary roster exemption that will allow them to try out a young probationary member of the 53 they'd otherwise have to cut on schedule. By 4 weeks in it may be clear that somebody else needs get their ras on IR, thus allowing everyone to stay.

 

[Bostonian1962]

Re: Haynesworth - Impartial Jury?

I posted this, of course, this morning. Hours later they come to a plea deal. Coincidence? Obviously not. He saw my concern with the jury approach, and took action. Quite clearly, I SAVED FOOTBALL IN NEW ENGLAND! Mr. Kraft, may I please have Super Bowl tickets?

You're welcome!

 

[goheels22002]

Re: Haynesworth - Impartial Jury?

This is legal manuevering by the prosecutor and looks to be a bit of a hail mary. The procecutor knows his case is significantly damaged because Haynesworth's attorneys found out that allegedly the waitress offered a security guard $50k to testify that Haynesworth groped her which will basically destroy the prosecutions case. If the judge allows this security guard to testify, the prosecutor has no case especially if the security guard testified in the grand jury that voted to indict him.

A defendent offering money to a victim which will ultimately stop them from testifying is a common practice. It happens every day. It seems to be a hail mary by the prosecutor.

The odds of Haynesworth losing this case are relatively slim at this point. It is doubtful the prosecutor will get Haynesworth's comments in because they are prejudicial (not about race, but the comments are inflamatory that they are likely to influence the jury beyond the facts of the case). If the judge allows the security guard to testify that the waitress offered him $50k to testify that he saw Haynesworth grope her, it provides reasonable doubt in a he said/she said argument unless there are some impeachable witnesses that claim that they saw Haynesworth do it.

My guess is Haynesworth will be back with the team on Thursday.

It was Haynesworth, not the waitress', attorney trying to bribe witnesses. Haynesworth was toast and the only way out was to plead nolo contendere. He's probably in the clear if he keeps his meat hooks off the help. His leash is short, though, since this is a federal misdemeanor case and Albert has prior assault convictions. I imagine the Krafts and the Commish have been very clear with him that he gets nailed legally and by the team and by the league if he screws up again.

 

[BTTA]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

The assumptions being made here about his actions are EXACTLY the reason people plead no contest to lesser charges in order to avoid rolling the dice on more severe charges.

There is no evidence that he touched her in a sexual way, or anywhere near the breasts, or even at all. There is an accusation from a person who claims she was harmed. That's it.

Yes, something definitely happened that night. But we are not clear at all about who is to blame for it.

He plead no contest to assault, not to battery. 50% of the posts here don't seem to distinguish between the two.

I'm not a fan of Haynesworth's personal character, at least up to now. I think he's got a short fuse and a twisted sense of himself. But that is irrelevant when determining innocence or guilt in a specific situation.

His defense of himself is entirely plausible here in DC. Successful Black men get a rash of cr*p from Black women for dating White women. It is seen as a degrading statement about blacks, as an abandonment of their own people, and as racist. Haynesworth is very public about the fact that he dates White women. It creates a lot of tension, and I'm sure he's experienced that tension in public many times. He could be using this a cover for what happened here, or it could in fact be what he says, that he is being persecuted and this is the underlying reason.

The point is, none of us knows much of anything about what happened. And yet, he's halfway convicted by the court of public opinion.

This causes people to want to get away from the justice system as fast as they can, guilty or not, and count their blessings.

 

[Sivy]

re: Haynesworth sentencing & league response (merged)

So many people love to judge people without knowing anything at all.