By Michael Dombkoski

A journalist’s job is to present the facts of a situation. Except when it’s not.

ESPN and Grantland columnist Bill Simmons spoke out on his weekly podcast, “The B.S. Report” about his feelings on how Roger Goodell has been handling the recent surge of domestic abuse cases in the NFL.

Simmons openly called Goodell a “liar” in his podcast and ESPN responded by suspending him for three weeks. In a statement, ESPN felt that they he did not reach their “journalistic standards.”

So herein lies the problem: in an age where the definition of journalism is more open than its ever been, how can a writer, one of the most prominent for the ESPN organization, not be allowed to speak his mind on a controversial topic on his own radio show?

Podcasts are supposed to be an arena where journalists can speak their opinion on a matter that they choose. Simmons, a well-respected and award-winning writer, was unafraid to say a statement that a lot of people were already thinking: when it came to the Ray Rice tapes, Roger Goodell had seen them months prior and had lied when asked by the media.

Simmons knew his punishment was coming and was unafraid to say it anyway–that’s what makes him such a great journalist. When a writer is willing to make personal sacrifices to make his words heard, that’s when you see the best journalism.

If this suspension does lead to Simmons leaving ESPN, it will be because he needs a forum where he can speak freely. ESPN had to punish Simmons to send a message that even its most respected employees need to have a limit. They could end up losing even more in the end.