Cam Sutton suspended for 8 games, could help the Lions' salary case against him

Former Lions cornerback Cam Sutton now has his NFL punishment stemming from the March domestic incident that led Detroit to cut the veteran starter. The league’s decision to mete out some harsh punishment on Sutton could be a boon to the Lions in their ongoing battle with their disgraced former player.

Sutton was suspended by the NFL for eight games on Monday for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Sutton will not appeal the suspension, meaning he will miss Pittsburgh’s first eight games.

The lengthy suspension could help the Lions in their quest to have his guaranteed money voided. The team filed the necessary paperwork to have Sutton’s contractual legacy voided for his conduct, but Sutton apparently filed an appeal to keep at least some of the $10.5 million the Lions had previously guaranteed to him.

Getting suspended by the league for eight games indicates that Sutton did indeed commit an egregious enough act to justify the Lions’ decision to release him. It can only help Detroit’s case to get the full contract value fully voided, though it’s all still up to an arbitrator to decide at an unknown time.

Hopefully the entire sordid mess and contract voidance issue is resolved soon.