Football - Suspension Excessive

On Monday, The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) made an appeal of the four-game suspension given by the team to Oakland receiver Jerry Porter for insubordination. The association justified that an appeal was necessary because they considers the punishment too excessive. The appeal would be heard by an independent arbitrator. Porter, who is currently in the second year of his five-year contract worth $20 million, would lose about $235,000 in pay if the suspension is confirmed.

Coach Art Shell kicked Porter out of practice on Friday on the ground that Porter was reported for being disruptive and insubordinate. Shell explained he discussed with receivers coach Fred Biletnikoff, the front office and owner Al Davis before making the decision. Eventually the Raiders decided to suspend Porter on Saturday.

Already in the past the relationship between the two men was complicated. Indeed Shell and Porter clashed almost immediately after the coach was hired in February. The cause was Porter's off-season workout plans. Following the event Porter publicly announced a trade demand at the start of training camp. He remained inactive for the four games before the suspension.

Porter was the team's leading receiver a year ago. He was currently working with the scout team in practice Alvis Whitted replacing him on the starting roster. Without Porter, the Raiders have struggled scoring only 50 points and losing their first five games. Last season Porter led the Raiders with 76 catches. He also had 942 yards receiving and five touchdown receptions in 2005.

Porter, who was a second-round pick in the 2000 draft, re-signed with the Raiders a lucrative five-year contract in the spring of 2004. But Porter has already made thresholds that allow him to void the contract after the 2007 season. As for the Raiders, they team do not intend to trade Porter or any other receiver such as Randy Moss before League trade deadline on Tuesday.