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Rookie salary caps would help. How do you expect 21 year old kids who suddenly have 30 million bucks to behave? Especially athletes who are used to being King of thier own little world, college. If they were limited to a million bucks, it might reign them in a little bit. I doubt they'd be running around spraying nightclub gangsters with Dom Perignon! But then again, I wont make a million if I work 3o years, so what do I know?!
Mike, your idea of holding clubs responsible for thier players actions sounds funky, but it might work. Its definitely an idea that begs to be examined closely.
Not only would the salary cap possibly rein in bad behavior, but it would encourage players to actually try, in order to get that second, more lucrative payday. Something that might have induced Ryan Leaf into using his talent for something besides signing a contract and then being a fat lazy jerk.
I don't pretend to know what the answer is for the current spate of conduct woes. Our new crop of rookies will be the first draft class playing under the new rules from the start of their NFL careers. If all the emphasis on appropriate conduct doesn't deter the new players, Goodell will have to try something else. I do think having the rookies visit the HOF to get a historical perspective for the game they play, as well as having them attend symposiums that help with their transition to the limelight is a step in the right direction. Maybe a more organized mentoring program for young players to stop problems before they start.
I also don't believe that Goodell's intentions are honorable regarding the implementation of the rules. He doesn't really care about fan satisfaction. He cares about the NFL making as much money as possible. Period. Off-season incidents affect the bottom-line, so Goodell is interested. If Goodell was all about the integrity of the game, he would have seen to it that more punishments were meted out to the Pats organization based on their history of cheating. He certainly wouldn't have erased the damn tapes so quickly, either.
Occassionally someone must stick up for the status quo. I think things are actually not as bad as they seem, so drastic measures should not be employed.
In 2006 (the last year for which data was available) American officers made 14m arrests. Since the adult population is around 230m, the arrest rate is about 1 for every 16 adults. That means for any 6 month span--the length of the offseason--the arrest rate is about 1 in every 32.
Counting just roster players, the NFL employs 1,696 players. If 38 were arrested this offseason, that puts the arrest rate at 1 in 44, lower than the general arrest rate. This should rank as good news, especially since the my insticts tell me that NFL players should be more likely to be arrested given their sense of entitlement and prominence.
Surely the NFL cannot move the arrest rate to 0. Or, rather, if it could, we would not condone the steps it would take. I think the league has taken reasonable and responsible steps to address the problem. More draconian measures would do more harm than good.
Finally, I think that punishing the teams would be a bad idea. Taking away draft picks or limiting cap room hurts a team's fans more than anyone else. As a general rule, people should not be punished for things over which they have no control.
JRuss,
you don't think he's doing this for fan satisfaction? Wow! You are right in pointing out he's doing this for money..no doubt. But money doesn't come without fan satisfaction- that is why he is doing it! Fan satisfaction comes BEFORE AND DURING the profits. Off-season incidents piss of communities, which are full of fans, which drives a loss in profit. So do not mix up the two- they go hand in hand. I do think that Goodell is running into a little micro-managing hell. In other words:
He tried to micro-manage the players...obviously the results haven't come full circle yet. If he knee jerks and strays course, and now raises the penalties for teams...then it will take him off course. This type of change is not going to happen in one year. I think a larger sample will be needed. In a perfect world all franchises would just 'get it' and behave like the Seahawks, Bears, and Patriots- which is cutting players with a repeated history of off-field issues. Those teams get it already. Whereas the teams like Dallas, Cincinati, Detroit, Oakland- will not respond properly based on understanding the league's policy. Each kid, er team, needs to be managed differently. Stuff is taking place we don't know about. Most likely the commissioners office is 'rewarding' teams that are following the league from the head office, and holding down teams who are not. I believe you need to let the current plan stay the course. But- know that franchises who are not playing by the commish rules will suffer in other ways...beyond draft picks. But eventually, if they don't "get it" the only way to harm them may be to take those measures...as well as punish the players who do not step into line.
Here's my point, Papahawk. I absolutely think that fan satisfaction is tied to profits. True and true. My problem is the way that Goodell has tried to establish fan satisfaction as the main reason for the stricter rules, as if the rules are only in place for the fan's benefit. I think that's being disingenuous. I'd have a lot more respect for Goodell if he simply said that bad behavior was eating into NFL profits, without spinning it as solely about fan satisfaction.
That said, I think off-season incidents are a problem and have to be addressed in some way, whatever the reason floated by the NFL.
You're right about about needing time to see if the current rules do affect a change. As I said, I think how the new rookie class functions under the stricter rules will be a good test of the conduct policy.
JRuss, you SO rock. Of course, I agree with you. Mr. Goodell has had more than adequate chances to enforce the player conduct policy; the league's choosing not to.
The most promising thing I've seen in the last few weeks: New England cut their latest problem child, Mr. Andrews, yesterday. Then again, he was a special teams guy in his second year. We'll know other teams are serious about weeding this kind of stuff out when they actually cut a starter.
One would think it would be a good thing for NFL teams to encourage acceptable behavior. The NBA is a cautionary tale for them. Plus, wouldn't it give the front office a chance to focus on stuff like oh, practices, games and the draft, instead of sending their spokespeople out yet again to explain why yet another player has a DUI, hit his girlfriend, etcetera?
Paul, the arrest rate might be lower than the general rate, but it doesn't make it acceptable. If the league is serious about drafting and retaining quality on and off the field, they'll start brainstorming for a workable solution.
BTW, I just heard on Sirius that there is no league sanction expected against Marshawn Lynch. WHY NOT? I'm sorry, but this is outrageous.
-S
Does it bother anyone else that stars like Tank Johnson, Ray Lewis, Brandon Marshall, Pacman, and the like are kept around despite (numerous)heinous acts, and borderline players such as the Patsies Andrews and that dude from Pittsburgh are unceremoniously dumped?
The Commish in his infinite wisdom has reinstated that utter douche Pacman, while dumping Chris Henry. Pacman is every bit the Turd that Henry is, but Pacman is around because he is a star, and Jerry Jones wanted him. Henry is a might-have-been and Commish made an example of him because he was expendable to the league--ie, Jerry Jones wasnt terribly interested in his services.
My sentiment is that Goodell isnt even across the board with his suspensions. We'll see what he does over the course of this season.
All I know is, every time I see another Barfy NFL add with Ray Lewis, or watch the NFL channels disgusting Lewis Image Rehab Fest disguised as an overview of the 2000 Ravens Super Bowl Team, I come desperately close to smashing my TV....the guy held down two guys so his enormous buddies could knife them...its an absolute joke that the court let him off. And I dont care how much BS charity work the NFL has him do for kids--the man is major league scum, and taints the NFL with his continued presence.
I do think that Goodell has been tougher on players than Tagliabue, which is a good thing. He is a bean-counter for sure, but he may steer the NFL on the right course yet. Here's hoping!
On another note... reports are that Favre is coming back... again. Seems he has the "itch" to play again. Whatever, Brett.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/ne...tory?
id=3471189
Yes, STTB, it bothers the heck out of me. More proof of Goodell's disingenuous nature. Inconsistency in the application of his own policies abound.
Goodell has been quick to dump so-so players who screw up, but the marquee players that get arrested for foul acts, and are desired by money-making teams, well, they miraculously reappear on an NFL roster.
Adam Jones may want people to believe he's reinvented himself, all shiny and new with a star on his helmet, but he's still just Pacman with a criminal history.
STTB, my sweet, 
I don't know what's in the CBA re: suing team owners and the NFL front office. At the same time, IMHO, but it's a matter of time before one of the lesser-lights "enforced upon" guys sues.
If they're going to have a rule, it's the same rule for everyone. EVERYONE. I was furious over the incident with the Stealers earlier this year -- two DV incidents within a week. The Pro Bowler stayed (and accepted a plea, if I remember correctly). The non-Pro Bowler was immediately cut. The Stealers' ownership announced that the situations were "different" and the enforcement was "fair". Right.
I can't BELIEVE Dallas was stupid enough to bring Pacman back. Listening to Deion Sanders run interference for him on the NFL Network nauseated me, too. I really can't believe that Tampa Bay wanted Jerramy Stevens, either, but then again, what do I know? After all, there aren't that many middling TE's available these days, right?
-S
I wonder what you would all talk about if the media didn't report on them. If its not a felony, the league shouldn't be involved. Of the 38 incidents were felony's? This is just sensationalism and soap opera reporting - it doesn't belong in sports, go read your tabloids for that garbage.
Even if it is a felony, while the league would have a right to refuse employment (we'd all support that) its still none of your business.
~GnarlyHawk
Taxpayers who paid for the goddamn stadium the players earn their money in, especially in a place like Washington state, where the vote was against using public money to build the stadium and then the politicians said "oh, you folks dont really know what you want. Were gonna give it to you anyway. Here you go--youre paying, and thats that."--these folks especially have a right to this information. They paid for the stadium against thier will, it definitely is thier business if players committ crimes, felony or otherwise.
When taxpayer dollars are used, everyone has a right to ALL information.
The idea of the teams being more responsible is great. The real problem is these guys never have to grow up. I'm a 22 year old senior finance major at WSU. I played football and baseball in high school and ski raced. The have the teenage brain where they don't think about the consequences until they are caught! Take Lofa for example. He is not a bad guy. A role model to oull aspiring football players. He just didin't think he has going to get caught. I garuntee it's what everyone of these guys thinks. They tell themselves, "it's not going to be me." If the teams are held more responsible the players will know that if they screw around at all consequences will be coming!
Very edge and irrelevent point.
Tax payers aren't paying salaries, it pays for the facility.
Using that logic, I have a right to know about everyone's driving record and it should make the news. I pay taxes on the roads you drive on and registration fees for my vehicle to allow me to drive it on the road. I also get to know about your divorce proceedings, foreclosures, credit line etc. I can tie them all to taxes and court filing fees.
It's not the players who need to grow up, its the nosey body media and fans. Players have been making the same offenses since the sport was first played.
Paul G, you've hit the nail on the head. Out of a pool of about 1700 young adult males, the most crime-prone portion of the population, there are only 30-40 arrests per year? It's astounding that there are so FEW, not that there are so many.
This is an entirely manufactured controversy.
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