[10/14/2004] Two men. Two vastly different consequences. Two sets of fines and suspensions. One great injustice served on a golden platter by the National Football League.

Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis pleads guilty to “using a cell phone to facilitate a drug deal” and is allowed to report to federal prison after the season for a lengthy four-month term.

Lewis was accused of helping broker a cocaine deal for co-defendant Angelo Jackson, a childhood friend, during conversations with a government informant in Atlanta during the summer of 2000. Charges against Jackson are still pending.

Without the plea, Lewis faced a minimum of 10 years in prison.

The NFL suspends him for two whole games, which he can appeal.

Appealing a suspension as a result of a felony drug charge to which he pleaded guilty?

There should be no appeal whatsoever. Lewis should sit the rest of the season, then take his perch in a jail cell.

Lewis will lose almost $700,000 in salary because of the suspension. He makes $4.3 million per season.

In the same season, Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer is facing progressive fines for his egregious acts of paying tribute to a fallen friend.

Plummer, who played football at Arizona State with Pat Tillman, refused to remove a small “40” sticker from the back of his helmet. He put it there to honor Tillman, who quit the league in 2002 to join the Army Rangers and died in combat in April.

After a league-wide tribute in Week 2 for Tillman, players were told to remove the stickers as to not violate the league’s uniform code.

The NFL originally said it would forgive the initial fine of $10,000 if Plummer removed the decal.

He didn’t.

The NFL promised then to fine Plummer up to $30,000 if he didn’t remove the decal.

He didn’t until Wednesday.

Plummer relented and agreed to find other ways to remember his fallen friend.

“When it comes to honoring Pat, he’s bigger than a sticker on my helmet,” Plummer told The Associated Press. “I don’t like the fact I can’t, but I understand what the league wants to accomplish with its rules and regulations.”

Plummer will not be fined.

The fact that the NFL would even consider fining Plummer is flawed. A zero tolerance policy should have worked against Lewis, and overlooked for Plummer.

Instead, Lewis will miss his two games, finish the season in luxury, then spend those months in federal prison for facilitating that drug deal.

Plummer will give up his tribute to Pat Tillman because of a ridiculous uniform policy.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Sean P. Murphy is sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. E-mail him at smurphy@vicksburgpost.com.