im not gonna defend Harrison cause im far from being a Pats fan or a Harrison fan but in terms of Avery, what he said was more than just "verbal jabs". He embarassed the organization he plays for and like Tom Hicks said, if the NHL didn't suspend him then the Stars would have. And as far as the NHL goes, it's the same deal, those words were embarassing to the league and offensive to women, they have every right to make an example of him.
BTW, you bought up that he said he was wrong and apologized, while this is true, did you see that apology? It was so contrived and obviously fed to him by his publicist. He was quick to gather TV cameras around him to say his stupid comments but he wasn't apologetic enough to gather the cameras outside the NHL offices in New York today to deliver that apology, he had to do it through a statement.