It’s good to be skeptical about the various things that can ruin a decision-making process. However, trying to identify potential conflicts of interest can be uncomfortable at times. That’s exactly what happened with the suspension of Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans. The original decision was made by former NFL player Jon Runyan. His son plays for the Packers. The Packers play the Buccaneers on Sunday. Obviously, it helps the Packers if Evans doesn’t play. And so an idea emerged on Monday that Jon Sr. would be doing Jon Jr a favor by ousting Evans. The crackpot theory gained some legitimacy when Schefty capitalized on it with a reference at halftime of the Vikings-Eagles game. While I usually love a nice, juicy argument, this is out of the question. As previously explained, Jon Sr. he consults with others in the league office. Also, and much more importantly, the decision made by the league office is subject to appeal. If the suspension was not warranted, James Thrash could and would have reached that conclusion. On Wednesday, Jon Runyan Jr. expressed the idea that his dad was doing a good job. “He was just doing his job,” Runyan Jr. said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “He’s been doing this job for over half a decade now. We happen to be playing the Buccaneers this week. Everyone’s trying to make this a conspiracy theory, which it’s not.” Runyan Jr. seems to agree with his dad (and Thrash) that Evans deserved the suspension. “[It was a] lapse in judgment on the field,” Runyan Jr. said. “Sometimes, these things happen. There’s a whole conspiracy theory going around, and it’s not true. That’s exactly how it goes. You can’t run 15 yards trying to chase someone when the play is over. It’s funny how things work out sometimes, though.” Runyan Jr. handled the situation perfectly. The game was over. The whistle had blown. Evans sprinted in from the edge of the field and blasted Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. It was a dangerous and unnecessary maneuver. It was beyond the limits of the actual game on the field. Evans got what he deserved. And the Runyans don’t deserve to be on the wrong end of a stupid theory that deflects attention to the wrongdoer by pointing the finger at someone else and making something out of nothing.
