NFL Silence on Quinshon Judkins Sparks Speculation and Mystery

As to potential discipline, the baseline suspension for domestic violence is six games. But that won’t happen until the criminal case ends.

The NFL finds itself in a tense holding pattern following the weekend arrest of Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on misdemeanor domestic battery charges. While the league’s official voice, through spokesman Brian McCarthy, remains tightly sealed—acknowledging awareness but opting for silence—the wheels behind the scenes are undoubtedly turning. It’s a delicate dance: investigations loom, potential disciplinary measures hover under the Personal Conduct Policy, and the shadow of paid leave, tied closely to the gravity of allegations, hangs over Judkins’ early career. Yet amidst all this, there’s a crucial reminder—Judkins is legally presumed innocent, and the NFL’s system promises a fair hearing if it comes to that. This case, a complex weave of law, league policies, and public perception, activates longstanding protocols that many know only by their outcomes. The story is far from over—hang tight, because this saga has layers that are just beginning to unravel. LEARN MORERegardless, the situation activates internal NFL procedures. While the league has declined comment as to Judkins, the policy and the history of enforcement of it says it all.Via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, chief NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said this regarding the Judkins arrest: “We are aware of the matter, but will decline further comment.”The reality is that the NFL will investigate the situation. They’ll potentially impose discipline under the Personal Conduct Policy, after the criminal matter has resolved.Before then, the league could (in theory) place Judkins on paid leave, pending resolution of the situation. It’s a case-by-case analysis, driven largely by P.R. concerns. The more serious the charges — and the more they relate to domestic violence — the more likely the league becomes to use paid leave.

In the aftermath of Saturday’s arrest of Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins for misdemeanor domestic battery, the NFL isn’t saying much.Along the way, Judkins has protections. In the eyes of the law, he’s presumed innocent. As to the NFL, he’ll have the ability to defend himself through an eventual hearing, if it comes to that.