Finding The Origin Of Tamba Hali's Suspension

The details surrounding Tamba Hali's suspension for the Kansas City Chiefs regular season opener have yet to fully come in. But they're still trickling in, slowly but surely.

Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star cites a league spokesman who suggests that Hali's suspension has come about as a result of violating the law. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio says the same thing.

PFT writes:

It's our understanding, per a source with knowledge of the situation, that Hali's offense likely involved marijuana, and that (as the league has announced) the penalty was a one-game suspension and a one-game fine.

That source could simply be Roger Goodell's past history of player suspensions.

Earlier this year, Jaguars' Nate Collins was suspended one game without pay and fined an additional game check for possession of marijuana.

Saints' Lawrence Wilson was suspended one game without pay and fined an additional game check for possession of marijuana.

Seahawks' Leroy Hill was suspended for one game without pay and fined an additional game check for possession of marijuana.

Falcons' Jonathan Babineaux was suspended for one game without pay and fined an additional game check for possession of marijuana.

You get the picture.

Performance enhancing drugs are a separate policy; Tamba isn't accused of that. Goodell's suspension history for marijuana possession may very well tell the story here.