In my perfect NFL world, a fan who spits on and/or hurls racial slurs at a player would face the consequences of the player having the legal right to deliver a good, stiff punch to the fan's over-served snout.
Yeah, it seems barbaric. But it sure would improve the behavior of those few fans who think the price of a ticket gives them the right to act anyway they want while ruining game day for everyone around them.
The findings of the NFL's investigation into an incident between a Bears' fan and Packers safety Nick Collins after Monday night's 20-17 Bears win will be released Friday. Collins faces a fine for throwing his mouthpiece at the fan after the fan allegedly spit on Collins and used a racial slur. Collins' reaction was caught on tape by WITI-TV Channel 6 in Green Bay.
The NFL has been investigating the incident since finding out about it Monday night. If the league determines the fan did those things, it should focus more on punishing the fan. If he's a season-ticket holder, boot him out and sell the ticket to someone else. The league also shouldn't fine Collins just so it can look good.
Collins is now saying he should have just walked away. But how many of us would have -- or should have -- if we were in Collins' shoes?
"This is a situation that I could have walked away from but, you know, heat of the moment," Collins told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Things happen. Both sides were out of line.
"It was just a situation I shouldn't have been part of. I should have just kept walking in the locker room."
Some other NFL thoughts ...