As reported earlier, Pacman Jones is preparing to appeal the decision made by commissioner Roger Goodell that would otherwise effectively suspend Jones for the entire 2007 season (playoffs included).

Jones defense? Prior history of the NFL’s punishment toward players who have been involved in off-field incidents, even those involved multiple times: in more than 300 prior cases, no one has ever been suspended for an entire season.

Something Jones should realize, however, is that the NFL went to great lengths — Goodell made created a team of current players as his advisors to make his decision more democtratic — earlier this offseason to create a new form of punishment because the prior system was simply too leniant. And it wasn’t because of “lesser” charges that Jones is being suspended. The most recent accusation involved a shooting in Vegas that left a man paralyzed.

Jones is appealing this to go through the motions in hopes the commissioner will alter his ruling. Unlikely as it may seem, there is a chance. But Jones and his fans — all three of them — shouldn’t be holding their breath.

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