New Orleans Saints Players Grant and Smith To Avoid Suspension

As a fan of the Saints I want to jump up and shout with joy that our guys got away with it.  I didn't feel as though any of the Star Caps players should have been suspended, but I'm finding myself worried about the statements from commissioner Roger Goodell when he announced that the two Saints players would not be suspended:

"This situation presents several unique and narrow aspects that I believe call for us to put the good of the game ahead of questions of discipline," Goodell said. "Considerations of fairness, uniform application of our policies, and competitive integrity all support deferring the suspensions at this time. I am not prepared to treat players differently when the same conduct is involved."

Now the primary reason the suspensions for all of the Star Caps players being lifted was due to Minnesota state law that prevented employers from suspending employees for failing drug tests.  The "fairness, uniform application of our policies" portion of Goodell's statement leaves me worried quite a bit about the future of the league's anti-doping policies.

Let's say next week Tony Romo pops for similar circumstances, will he get off as well or will he be punished?  If he's punished then how is that a fair and uniform application of the league's policies?  If he's not punished then what is to keep anyone from taking these water pills to mask steroid usage and then using the argument that the league shouldn't punish them because it would no longer be a fair and uniform application of the policies.

I'm on the side of the ball that asks just how fair is it to the league and to other players that a state law can override a collectively bargained agreement by the players and the owners.  How is this going to effect our next CBA and whether or not we're going to end up with an uncapped season next year and a league that ends up spiraling out of control.  It's the end of the world as we know it people!  But hey at least the two get to stick around with my boys for the season.  I don't think any of these individuals were trying to buck the system and I really think this could have been handled and settled behind the scenes leading to a much more league friendly outcome.