 |
| Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY |
Goodell is protecting the present by implementing his "personal conduct policy" which states:
"It is not enough to simply avoid being found guilty of a crime, instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful. Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime."
To put it simply, hold yourself to the highest standard set forth by the NFL or face disciplinary action. This is true for any business or industry. Just as a teacher would be disciplined if he or she were to have sexual conduct with one of his or her students. Or a radio DJ would be fined by the FCC for using profane language. The Commissioner has the right to discipline any player for anything he sees as detrimental to the league, such as alleged sexual assault, a helmet to helmet hit, or an illegal and devastating hit to a quarterback.
Protecting the quarterback is a MUST. The quarterback position in the NFL is vital to league and team success. How did the Bears look without Jay Cutler (7-3 with him and 1-5 without)? Which means less NFL interest and diminishing attendance in one of the biggest cities in the U.S.
So when there is a NFL team that is providing financial benefits to its defensive players for taking opposing players "out" of the game by any means necessary, swift and stiff punishment is a must.
Which leads to protecting the future of the NFL . There is almost nothing that can bring down an enormous corporation such as the NFL. Almost being the key word. The one thing that could crush the NFL is litigation in the form of lawsuits. Lawsuits are already piling up on desks of NFL execs due to Bountygate. So the NFL is protecting themselves by disciplining the Saints organization and letting other teams know that this kind of conduct is completely unacceptable and will be met with immediate action.
Since Goodell has become the Commissioner, NFL player arrests have gone down from 79 in 2006 to 62 in 2011 and as of May 2 this year, only 16 (USA Today). Which points out that Goodell's "personal conduct policy"is working exceptionally well.
To play in the NFL you have to be extremely talented. The number of high school seniors who make it to the NFL is microscopic. But no matter how talented you may be, to be employed by the NFL is a privilege. A privilege that comes with great responsibility. Rodger Goodell informs players of these responsibilities and holds them to the highest possible standards which has made the NFL more popular today then ever before.
See more:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-04-10-new-conduct-policy_N.htm
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/05/has-roger-goodell-improved-player-conduct/1#.T6HD3MWUUmY
OK, a couple things here. Football is a contact sport, so you can't hold a helmet-to-helmet hit on the same pedestal as a teacher having sexual relations with a student, as having sex with kids isn't what they teach, nor is it their job. As far as protecting the quarterback, I get that to a certain regard, but how long until it's just flag football for them, it seems the direction it's heading. Isn't an offensive line in position for protecting the QB? Why do they need Goodell's help too? It seems quite redundant. And again, they play a contact sport, they should know what they're signing up for. I assume you linked this to me because I trash on Goodell all the time, but I know the good he's done for the game.
ReplyDeleteOk, a couple things here. I NEVER compared helmet to helmet hits to sexual assault. Read it again. I making analogies here. First, I compared Sexual assault by a NFL player to sexual assault by a teacher. Two separate employees in two separate careers where they would be disciplined by their employer for off the job crimes. Second, I compared helmet to helmet hits to a radio DJ being fined by the FCC. In this analogy two employees would be fined by their employer for on the job violations. Then there is the "they should know what there signing up for" defense. Do you think Dave Duerson knew that he would suffer traumatic and severe brain damage that would effect him for his entire life. We're just finding out about the effects concussions have on the life of NFL players. They sign up for a sport in which they understand that they could suffer career ending injuries and injuries so severe that they could die. But, not injuries in which they walk away from the game "unscathed" only to find out that they suffer from traumatic brain injuries and have serious battles with depression and may feel the only way out is to commit suicide.
ReplyDeleteComparisons still aren't fair. On defense it is your job to go out and hit people. From a young age, you're taught to hit low, "the lower man wins," Now all of a sudden you get fined for it. Most helmet-to-helmet hits are from a ball carrier bracing for the hit and tucking his chin. I highly doubt defenders break away from the line thinking about leading with the crown of their helmet, a lot of things happen in a second. Secondly, you don't think Mr. Duerson thought there wouldn't be any ill side effects whatsoever from playing football? If they're prepared to play a sport where death is a possibility, how is it on the NFL when they have problems down the road? Knowing what they know now, I guarantee most everyone that has played in the NFL wouldn't give it back, which is the same reason why kids who get drafted today won't say no. This is like a surfer being pissed that he was attacked by a shark. Common sense says you can't walk away from a career in the NFL with no side effects, I don't think that sentiment has been any different over time.
ReplyDelete