I don't think the issue is the severity of the charges. The issue is completion of the legal process. Addison may indeed be spared this year. He has a pre-trial conference with the judge next week in CA. The judge will decide if both sides are ready for trial and schedule a trial within 90 days. The two sides can also decide to resolve the case before the trial date. The NFL lets the legal stuff play out before they dole out suspensions. If Addison decides to take a lesser "deal" now...he can hope to avoid a suspension at all or be suspended early in the season instead of potentially being suspended late in the season or during the (potential) playoffs.
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