Fans Cry Foul on Jordan Addison Conspiracy
Jordan Addison will be suspended for three games to start the 2025 regular season for a “wet reckless” and DUI-adjacent offence he created in the summer of 2024.
Some are calling out the NFL after Jordan Addison’s suspension sparked conspiracy chatter, with comparisons to Rashee Rice fueling double-standard theories.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice took part in a high-speed vehicle incident that caused a massive car crash in March 2024 — about three months before Addison’s gaffe. Now, though, Rice’s suspension status is up in the air, enabling him to play in the Chiefs game to start the season, unlike Addison, who’s indisputably suspended to start the 2025 campaign.
And just like that, a conspiracy theory grew legs.
Punishment for Jordan Addison, Rashee Rice Raise Eyebrows.
Vikings fans want to know why the timing of Rice’s discipline is different.
Rashee Rice Gets Different Treatment than Jordan Addison
Rice will continue his discipline saga on September 30th.
NFL.com’s Grant Gordon explained last week, “The NFL initially proposed a suspension of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice for double-digit games, which is the basis of the league and NFL Players Association inability to agree on the length of the penalty leading to a Sept. 30 disciplinary hearing, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Friday.”
“There is still the possibility that an agreement on suspension length is reached prior to the start of Kansas City’s season on Sept. 5, which would result in Rice missing games to begin the year rather than at a later point, Pelissero added.”
September 30th marks right after Week 4 on the NFL calendar.
Gordon added, “Rice, 25, is facing discipline under the league’s personal conduct policy after he was sentenced to 30 days in jail in July following authorities saying he and another driver traveling at high speeds caused a chain-reaction crash that involved multiple vehicles and caused multiple injuries March 30, 2024, on a Dallas highway.”
Addison’s Suspension a No-Brainer; Rice’s Interpretive
News of the Rice hearing on September 30th sounded alarm bells, especially for Vikings fans. Why was Addison’s suspension an utter no-brainer? Why will the NFL wait to adjudicate Rice’s misgivings?
Some believe — bogus or not — that the NFL wants Rice to play in Kansas City’s first four games, as those meetings are better for ratings. The schedule thereafter isn’t quite as scintillating per marquee matchups. That’s the main fuel for conspiracies.
Chiefs-Happy Conspiracy Theories
Of course, the league “helping” Kansas City is not a new theory among fans. Constant chatter suggests that referees help the Chiefs, though that mindset usually accompanies any sports dynasty.
In reality, Rice faces a double-digit-game suspension, and the league is probably just proceeding more thoroughly than Addison’s point-blank three-game penalty.
The only strange discrepancy is timing. Why can’t the NFL hold the September 30th hearing … now?
Nothing Can Fix or Change It
It’s unclear if a 10+ game suspension will dampen the conspiracy theories among fans. Maybe it would; maybe not.
Rice will likely face suspension for more games than three, which has prompted the NFL to institute an exhaustive process to ensure fairness and accuracy. The league might argue that Addison’s crime was cut-and-dried.
What’s more, nothing will change Addison’s suspension. It’s not like the Vikings’ wins and losses will change if Rice gets suspended for 10 games after September 30th. There’s nothing to alter the process from Minnesota’s perspective.
Mike Florio on the Addison-Rice Debate
Pro Football Talk‘s Mike Florio took on the suspension discrepancy last weekend.
He wrote, “He’ll [Rice will] serve 30 days and spend five years on probation. And he’ll be on the field for at least the first four games of the season, because his disciplinary hearing won’t happen until September 30. It makes no sense. And it’s making some wonder whether someone wants Rice to be available for a quartet of high-profile Kansas City games to start the season.”
“From Week 1 against the Chargers in Brazil on YouTube to Week 2 against the Eagles at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox to Week 3 against the Giants on NBC’s Sunday Night Football to Week 4 against the Ravens at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, Rice is now good to go. Rice pleaded guilty. The question is only the extent of the punishment.”
The Chiefs play at the Los Angeles Chargers to start the regular season on September 5th. Rice will play.
“Why didn’t the league expedite the case? If all else fails, put him on paid leave until the case is resolved, and give him credit for the games he misses after the final punishment is issued. At a time when many think the league favors the Chiefs, situations like this will not become evidence to the contrary,” Florio continued.
“If anything, it looks like the dominos have fallen in a way to ensure that Rice will be available for four, and likely five, high-profile games to be played on YouTube, CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN/ABC.”
All Vikings fans can do is monitor Rice’s eventual comeuppance. They’re powerless otherwise.
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