Bravo, Commissioner Goodell.
When Roger Goodell became the commissioner on August 8, 2006, he promised to crack down on personal conduct, to promote player safety, and to "protect the shield."
In his six years at the helm, he has managed to limit late hits, fine and suspend players for illicit and illegal activity, and (begrudgingly) promote concussion safety.
He finally proved that management is as responsible as players in promoting that good image.
Goodell was fair and just in his ruling. He fined the Saints $500,000 and docked them two second round draft picks. He also suspended Saints GM Mickey Loomis eight games, assistant coach Joe Vitt six games, head coach Sean Payton for the entire year, and current Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for an indefinite period of time.
There's no place for stuff like that in today's NFL, and payouts for any type of in-game activity, whether it's for an interception or a "knock-out," is forbidden.
Even if bounties and rough play are part of the undercurrent of NFL culture, there's no denying the facts. A few years ago, Goodell asked various members of the Saints staff, including Payton, Williams, Loomis, as well as team owner Tom Benson to stop with the bounties.
But Payton, Williams, Loomis, and Vitt not only kept it going - hiding it from Benson and Goodell - but they denied any involvement. That's a sign of poor leadership and lack of respect for the commissioner's vision for the NFL. And, more importantly, they lied.
That was more than enough motivation for the commish to put the hammer down so hard on Williams - who is now the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams - and the Saints.
People have to realize that although fans think of the NFL as all fun and games, the players look at it as a job. They have families to feed. They have mortgages and bills to pay as well, and when you have a group of players that are purposely trying to take that away in illegal ways it creates a toxic work environment.
And, contrary to popular belief, it's something that NFL players are largely against.
"The bounty thing is completely unprofessional. I'm happy the league has made it known it won't be tolerated," said Carolina Panthers tackle Jordan Gross to ESPN. "To think that something like that would happen - guys trying to hurt someone to make a few extra bucks - is just appalling. I mean we have a lot on the line, every single one of us. You don't want to see anyone taken out of a game."
And he hasn't stopped there. He is also ordering owners of the other 31 NFL teams to certify in writing that no other programs exist on their teams, and that it won't happen again.
"We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game. We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities," said Goodell in a statement after handing out the fines. "No one is above the game or the rules that govern it."
According to the ESPN, the league faces more than 20 different concussion-related lawsuits from former players - the same ones who were all for the violent nature of the game when they were playing - so by not handing down the punishments for these actions, Goodell would be a hypocrite and a liar.
People may say that it makes the NFL more "sissy" and that the league is a violent league anyway. I say "so what?" This isn't the 1980s. The NFL is a different place and a different sport. Players are faster and stronger in these days. It's bad enough that players routinely get hurt on normal, violent collisions. They don't need other players trying to end careers on purpose.
So instead of complaining about how bad the league has become, let's give a standing ovation to Goodell, who showed some stones. He's finally showing that everybody involved in the operation of running a team, whether it's a player, a coach, or even a team mascot, is held responsible for promoting a good image to fans.
For someone that is protecting that good image to its fans, he made the right call.
Email: nathaniel.smith@ubspectrum.com
