The NFL handed down a 5 game suspension to Tennessee Titan lineman Albert Haynesworth for scraping his cleat across the unprotected face of Dallas Cowboy lineman Andre Gurode. Gurode received 30 stitches and is still suffering from headaches on a regular basis. The doctors have not ruled out plastic surgery.

The NFL and the players union have made major progress improving the image of this league. I’ve been impressed with the fines and suspensions players receive for drugs, drunken driving, and off the field violence. This time I’m extremely disappointed. I think Haynesworth deserved a one year suspension and tons of community service. The actions were violent and have probably caused long term damage.

These types of action require immediate and severe punishment. A player committing a personal foul during the game is one thing, but to attack a player after a dead ball is unacceptable. The NFL may be setting a bad precedence after all the hard work.

The Ohio State Buckeyes need to concentrate on each game this season. If this team starts concentrating at the match with “that team up north”, they could find themselves with one lose they didn’t plan on. The Bucks have enough weapons to offset one player having a bad game, but Coach Jim Tressel wants every player to improve each week.

Since the first year Coach Tressel took the helm as the Buckeyes head coach, he stressed this game as the most important game each year. He impressed the Buckeye Nation with his comments of preparing for this game a little each week. Tressel now faces the challenge of keeping the players focused for the next six weeks.

The Buckeyes have proved they have one of the top teams in the nation, now it’s time to prove they can stay grounded till that “team of north” comes to visit.