NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that the league will not penalize Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch for a hit-and-run accident that left a woman injured.

“I think the facts are clear on the case at this point in time, and I don’t plan any discipline,” Goodell said.

This garbled sentence is anything but clear — at this point or that point.

The hook removal, “I don’t plan any discipline,” simply does not work. “I don’t plan to discipline him,” yes. “I don’t plan on any discipline,” fine. But “I don’t plan any discipline,” suggests that issuing penalties is not one of Goodell’s duties.

Second, a note on time. When making points in relation to time, we often wind up being redundant. To say “the facts are clear on the case at this point” would have sufficed. Tacking on “in time” adds absolutely nothing. Likewise, it is pointless to say someone has a bright future ahead of her. The future, by definition, can only be ahead. On the other hand, it is ridiculous to reference “historical figures from the past.” That’s the only place you can find historical figures.

While we’re on the subject, let’s make the distinction so you can intelligently describe the presidential campaign underway. Historical refers to anything from the past. Historic, on the other hand, indicates that an event or person is making history. The former is a neutral term; the latter passes judgment, and the proper choice for describing an African American presidential candidate.