The Giants announced that they were waiving safety Will Hill, who emerged as a quality starter in the secondary last season. The announcement came after Hill for a third time violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Hill served four game suspensions in 2012 and 2013 for his other violations, and was facing a third suspension – this time worth six games after a suspension.
This behavior – coupled with the return of Stevie Brown – led to the Giants getting frustrated and severing ties with the third-year safety from Florida.
Hill played in 12 games for the Giants last year, making 77 tackles, forcing 2 fumbles and snagging two interceptions.
From a football standpoint, the release of Hill is not that big of a deal. While he is good, he’s not good enough to deal with the headaches that come with him.
The bigger problem, is the message sent by the NFL with the way they handle the suspensions for the violations of the substance abuse policy.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington was recently suspended for an entire year for testing positive for marijuana, and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon faces a year suspension of his own, also for a marijuana violation.
With harsh suspensions like these for minor offenses – and even the lesser penalties handed out to Hill over the past three years – Roger Goodell has crossed the line.
When Donte’ Stallworth got behind the wheel of his car intoxicated and struck and killed a person he got a year suspension. Leonard Little got eight games for the same crime.
Kenny Britt got a one game suspension for DUI after trying enter Fort Campbell then refusing a breathalyzer test, although that was his eighth run-in with the law in three years.
There is security camera footage of Ray Rice knocking out his fiancée in an Atlantic City Casino and then dragging her out the front door. The league has not suspended Rice yet.
I’ll repeat that.
Washington gets one year for smoking marijuana. There has been video of Rice committing domestic abuse out there for four months, and so far no suspension.
Will Hill is out of a job. Ray Rice will share reps with Justin Forsett in training camp.
Justice has been served, Roger Goodell style.
Joe Vasile | Featured Columnist
@JoeVasilePBP