Terrelle Pryor: Roger Goodell Right To Uphold Controversial QB's Suspension

After everything that has happened, new Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor might be able to finally focus on football and nothing else, even if he has to sit out longer than he would have wanted. 

His five-game suspension, which he and his agent had been appealing, was officially upheld by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

ESPN's Adam Schefter, as is so often the case, was among the first to report this news. He tweeted the following: "Terrelle Pryor's 5-game suspension was upheld today."

Pryor and his representation simply waited too long after the suspension was handed down to have any real shot at having it reduced.

The short and sweet nature of Schefter's tweet was probably accidentally symbolic of how quickly commissioner Goodell made his decision when it came to this appeal.

The Pryor camp really did themselves no favors by handling this process they way they did.

When the suspension was initially handed down, there was talk that Pryor would appeal. Ultimately, though, he said that he wasn't going to appeal. At some point, things changed and Pryor and his agent decided to go ahead and appeal the suspension.

What could have possibly changed in that time? To Goodell, this had to smell of a player simply acting as his agent tells him to rather than the other way around.

I've personally changed my mind completely on this suspension. When it was first handed down, I felt like Goodell was overstepping his boundaries by suspending a player for something he did in college.

Now, I get it.

Goodell is looking to keep players from running away from NCAA violations by coming to the NFL via the supplemental draft.

Goodell is nothing if not proactive about keeping his league as clean as possible. Say what you will about the man, but he is consistent.

I really hope that Pryor turns out to be a model citizen in the NFL. Having to serve out his five-game suspension is a step in the right direction towards getting him there.