Goodell's Iron Fist

DONT MESS UP ON MY WATCH

With a couple of hefty suspensions, Roger Goodell made it very clear that his term as NFL commissioner will not be tainted by the likes of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry. Last week Goodell handed Jones a season-long suspension and Henry half of that. The move has been met with near unanimous praise from players, coaches, GMs, and sportswriters alike. Perhaps my opinion is the minority, and perhaps I am biased because Henry is a Bengal, but I think Goodell's actions were excessive, and I think the new player conduct policy is rediculous.

I am not quite sure where to start, but let me start with the fact that Chris Henry served a two-game suspension in the 2006 season for pleading guilty to a marijuana charge and a gun charge respectively. He was still left with a DUI and a providing alcohol to minors charge which he cleared up shortly thereafter. I am not debating the fact that Henry lacks common sense, but that does not mean he should be punished with eight games for a DUI and another alcohol related offense, especially after he got two games last season for weapons charges. Pacman Jones is another shady character who needed discipline, but a SEASON-LONG suspension???? That marks the first time in 44 years that a player was given a season-long suspension for anything besides violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Goodell overreacted to a problem that will always be prevalent in a sport where young athletes, who often come from nothing, are given more money than they know what to do with. I mean, so Pacman wants to make it rain a little. Who exactly is that hurting??

This leads me to my other point: The new NFL player conduct policy is rediculous. It gives ultimate authority to Goodell who is now able to act before the legal system has run its course. I cannot comprehend how the NFLPA allowed this to happen. Technically a player could arrested, suspended, and the ultimately cleared of all charges. This would not matter because Goodell could have already suspended this player in anyway he sees fit. It is also being applied retroactively. This leads to the question of "how far back can his authority reach?" Ray Lewis was involved in a murder case in 2000, but he was not suspended a single game by the league. Jamal Lewis served time in a Federal Pen, but he only received a two game suspension for it. I just don't see how this new policy can be applied with so many areas of gray that need to be addressed. Goodell has also made it clear that teams can now be punished for their players actions. This means that Marvin Lewis is now responsible for his player actions 24/7. I thought these players were grown men. If you punish the player, why the need to also punish the team?? A better policy would have allowed for the teams to discipline their players the way that they see fit. Give the teams the ability to sit their players for off-the-field issues. If the teams do not act appropriately, then the NFL should step in and penalize the team.

click the link for the entire conduct policy:

http://nflpa.com/RulesAndRegs/ConductPolicy.aspx

Lastly, I would re-emphasize the fact that NFL players are going to get into trouble regardless of the punishment. From Stanley Wilson to Lawrence Phillips, from Ray Lewis to Rae Carruth, players have gotten into trouble since the beginning, and I honestly am not convinced that the new policy will change that. More than anything, we live in a world of instant information, and every little incident involving a player is now reported almost immediately. I doubt this was the case in the 70s, 80s, and even 90s. Justin Smith received a DUI a few years back, and I do not recall the type of national coverage that similar offenses receive today. DUI checkpoints and other enforcement measures have equaled more players getting into trouble whereas before they might have not even been arrested. Time will tell if the new policy can change a CULTURE of young athletes just by offering stricter punishments.

Tank, the Commissioner would like to see you in his office.