Dec 12, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Is it just me, or is there a different NFL player getting arrested every day? While there have been somewhere around 30 players who have gotten in trouble with the law over the last few months, I wanted to focus on one of the more recent offenders: Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch was pulled over at about 4 a.m. on Saturday in California after he was spotted swerving through traffic and almost hitting two different cars.

I might be picking on Lynch a little by focusing on his issue, but as a Rams fan this could have way more of an impact on our season than any of the others. Lynch already served a three-game suspension back in 2009, so you have to think that Roger Goodell is going to lay the smack down on him this time as well. I think most people assume that Seattle is going to be better than the Rams in 2012 (whether they are correct or not is another story), but if Lynch is forced to miss some significant time then the Hawks could be in trouble.

I’ve always kind of liked Lynch, and I really wanted the Rams to go after him to back up SJ39 when he was on the market a few years ago. However, Seattle grabbed him instead and he has had a pretty nice run since he got the Pacific Northwest. Considering the questions they have at quarterback right now, they can’t afford to be without Lynch early in the season.

I don’t know what’s going to happen here, but I would imagine that Goodell isn’t pleased with so many of his players getting in trouble. If he chooses to make an example out of some of these guys, Lynch could find himself is even hotter water as a repeat offender. We’ll have to wait and see, but any decision could have a pretty serious impact on the 2012 NFC West.

Feb 6, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during the Super Bowl most valuable player and winning head coach press conference at the Super Bowl XLVI media center at the J.W. Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

We still can’t get away from Bountygate, but I heard something today that actually surprised me. A couple different NFL people said Tuesday that they believe that a full-season suspension is a distinct possibility for Gregg Williams. I knew the NFL was serious about this thing, but I never thought a full year was a real possibility. I mean, there’s no doubt that Williams is going to get fined, probably heavily, and I thought there was a chance he might be gone for a few games. But a full season? Really?

I don’t want it to feel like I’m not taking this scandal seriously, but how can the league banish a guy for a year when most every team in the league does some form of the same thing? I don’t want to keep comparing this to Spygate because I think it’s apples and oranges, but since others have brought the comparison forth, I’ll use it. If you look at the punishment handed to Bill Belichick, it makes a year suspension even more ridiculous.

I want to emphasize that Williams has not been suspended yet and we don’t know what’s going to happen, and this is all just talk right now. But if he does get a year, it’s going to be a great injustice.

November 6, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams talks to linebacker Jonathan Casillas (52) and Jo-Lonn Dunbar (56) during the second quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

This Gregg Williams story is still going strong, and since we have plenty of time to discuss the combine, I think it’s more important to talk about this right now. Williams met with the NFL on Monday to discuss his role in the bounty scandal, and there has been a lot of talk in the St. Louis area about whether the Rams will make a move away from him in light of his newfound negative reputation. Post Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz discussed this issue earlier on Monday, and I think he’s right on.

Miklasz noted that the Rams aren’t likely to get rid of Williams because of his relationship with Jeff Fisher. He and Fisher are close friends, which means one of two things would have to happen for Williams to get fired. Either Fisher would have to make the decision to fire his friend, or Stan Kroenke would have to take it upon himself to fire Williams, thus undermining Fisher, his hand-picked coach. I can’t imagine either of these scenarios will go down, but as big as Roger Goodell is on safety right now, the pressure from the league could play at least some kind of role.

Williams will likely be suspended for part of the upcoming season, but at this point I think his job is safe. Unless Goodell really forces the Rams’ hand here, which I think is very unlikely to happen, expect Williams to remain with the organization going forward. This story is far from over, but at this point I think we just have to hope that no new information is going to come out to make Williams look even worse than he already does.