NFL criticized for light suspension of Cameron Sutton

NFL fans criticized the league for releasing Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton a relatively lenient suspension for the alleged attack on the mother of his children.

In March, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced that there was a warrant out for Sutton’s arrest in connection with a domestic dispute. The sheriff’s office stated that he was wanted for domestic violence by strangulation.

He turned himself in on the night of March 31. Police had been searching for him since March 7, when officers responded to a report of an assault. Sutton allegedly fled the scene before police arrived, but police said the victim – the mother of Sutton’s children – “sustained wounds consistent with an incident having occurred.”

While police searched for him, the Lions released him. In June, he signed a one-year contract with the Steelers.

On Monday, the league announced that Sutton had been suspended for eight games for violating the NFL’s rules of conduct.

For many, this suspension was far from sufficient in view of the allegations

against him.

As several people noted, the punishment for assault is less than half the suspension players receive for violating the league’s gambling policies.