No Game Balls For Goodell

Does anyone remember "The NFL Experience"? Good judgment comes from experience. Experience is often gained from many bad judgments.

We applaud the NFL's new domestic abuse policy. However, the commissioners office which had a bounty placed on it by SBNation, already set a major precedent in 2009, and has been guilty of fostering a culture of regressive behavior through enablement for many years.

As stated in this 2009 letter to the Commissioners office , upon Michael Vick's reinstatement into the NFL with the Eagles... One of the golden rules, you never mess with women, children or animals.

With that reinstatement, the office of the NFL Commissioner sent a clear message of not standing up for animals or animal rights. That being the case, why would anyone expect the office to stand up for women and children who are the victims of rape or domestic abuse?

After all, for an office which is remunerated to the tune of $44 million annually, and through various forms of oral gratification (PR telling people what they want to hear), coddling highly paid athletes and maintaining the NFL ownerships cash flow are much more important duties.

In 2010 when Vick was awarded "The Ed Block Courage Award" by his Eagle teammates, we stated in no uncertain terms:

The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of neglected children and ending the cycle of abuse.

The man was convicted of bankrolling the dogfighting operation, and he admitted taking part in drowning and hangings of defenseless animals. Vick also admitted to throwing smaller breed dogs into the ring to watch them be killed by his fighting dogs.

Does Vick sound like the kind of man deserving of this award? We see through the thin veneer of a repenting parolee, and for what he truly is.

In fact, Vick's demonstrated complete lack of character should have and would have landed him a lifetime ban... that is, from a commissioner and league that had any brains or balls. Pity and shame that many idolize these "role models"...and the league itself as an organization representative of integrity.

The NFL condones wife beaters, suspected murderers, animal killers and multiple offence drug users... Their message resonates loud and clear: Long gone are the days of integrity, its all about the money and don't you ever forget it.

Chris Chase observed:

I'd be surprised if the award's founders intended for the honor to be given to someone doing community service as part of the terms of his parole or for showing courage in the face of reporters asking legitimate questions about federal crimes.

Apparently Philadelphia players confuse Vick handling dogfighting questions and booing with a measure of class as some sort of courage. That Vick only got a chance to show this mild courageousness because of the extreme cowardice it takes to murder helpless animals isn't something that crosses their mind. They confuse Vick's desperation with some sort of integrity.

Five years later, following through in this bizarre pattern of behavior, the commissioners office stood up way too late for women and children as revealed in this ESPN investigation of the Ray Rice matter.

Keith Olbermann called the commissioners office on the carpet here. John Oliver satirically nails the commissioners office to the wall here.Olbermann comments on the media, public and sponsor backlash here.

Above, Vick himself mirrors our sentiments towards he for his actions, and the commissioners office for allowing his reinstatement.

Vick was not guilty of a one time incident and participated in this sociopathic behavior as a young adult over many years. This coward engaged in hanging and drowning dogs who did not perform well and was involved in promoting, funding, and facilitating a dog fighting ring on his property.

Despite spending 21 months in prison for committing a federal felony and a two year suspension from the NFL, this coward should have received a lifetime ban from the commissioners office.

The punishment was lenient and anything but befitting of the behavior. Nothing more, nothing less, its that simple, no MBA, rocket science or attorneys required.

Forrest Gump could have figured this out much faster than the commissioners office. So much so, that former commissioner's; NFL Pete Rozelle and MLB Happy Chandler are collectively rolling over in their graves. Why?

Prior to the 1947 season, Leo Durocher was suspended for the entire season by Happy Chandler because of incidents Chandler summed up as "detrimental to baseball." These included rumors of gambling; a public rivalry with New York Yankees owner Larry MacPhail, and a highly publicized affair and elopement with actress Lorraine Day.

In 1963, MVP Green Bay Packer running back Paul Hornung (The Golden Boy) and Alex Karras (Mongo), the Detroit Lions All-Pro defensive tackle, were suspended for the entire season by Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with gamblers.

In neither of these cases were there any violent acts, arrests or convictions for any crime. In each case, betting or just the hint of an association with gamblers was involved, throw in "The Lip's" affair, for leaving his wife and eloping and you have conduct unbecoming. In each case a full years suspension was served and the punishment fit the behavior, do you think?

Since those glory days, Baseball has suffered through Pete Rose's gambling (1989) and the recent Balco performance enhancing drug (steroid) scandals (1988-2002 which the NFL also endured).

In addition, the NFL has suffered: Ray Rice elevator knockout (2014); Brandon Spikes internet sex tape (2013); Tiki Barber affair/divorce (2012); Saint's Bounty Gate (2012); Lawrence Taylor teen sexual misconduct, 3rd degree rape (2011); PacMan Jones assault, vandalism, felony obstruction, shooting (2006-2010); Big Ben's multiple sexual assaults (2009-2011); Donte Stallworth manslaughter DUI (2009); Favre-Sterger Sexting (2008); Plaxico Burress self shooting illegal weapon (2008); Marvin Harrison shooting incident (2008); Michael Vick dog fighting ring (2007); Patriots Spygate Videos (2007); Michael Irvin rape (2007); Tank Johnson illegal weapons (2007); Vikings Love Boat prostitution scandal (2005); Barret Robbins attempted murder (2005); Michael Irvin drug possession (2005); Ray Lewis two murders, obstruction (2000); Rae Carruth murder arrangement (1999); Leonard Little manslaughter DUI (1998); Michael Irvin Coke n Ho's Motel (1996); OJ Simpson murder trial (1995).

Aside from Michael Irvin's triplet busts (and how is he even associated with football anymore?) does anyone see a pattern here?

Prior to 1995, the list is much shorter than the one presented above. Aside from Bounty Gate, in the bulk of these scandals, if any penalty was even imposed (innocent until found guilty under law), the suspensions received totaled a handful of games. Tank Johnson wasn't suspended until after his fourth arrest for illegal weapons possession. What reasonable person of sound mind would think the punishment fit the behavior?

And under whose watch did the bulk of these events occur? NFL Commissioners: Goodell (2014-2006); Paul Tagliabue (1990-2005); Pete Rozelle (1960-1989). It looks like Rozelle ruled with an iron fist, Tagliabue got out just in time, while under Goodell, the inmates are running the Asylum because of late, the punishment meted out by the NFL commissioner exemplifies "sparing the rod and spoiling the child" and have not fit the behaviors.

This weak posturing and seeming inability to make stern punishment has resulted in a pattern involving an increased frequency of offences which are escalating in severity.

Punishment is intended for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behavior deemed unacceptable. To be effective, the punishment must fit the behavior so as to discourage repeat offences by the perpetrator and others.

With a prominent social exposure such as the NFL's, who cares if anyone is guilty under law? In the entertainment business as in many others, perception is reality. Just the implication, association or substantiated conduct unbecoming should be enough to met out stiff and discouraging penalties to players and ownership alike.

There is no magic wanding for redemption and forgiveness as they are earned over a number of years while setting a vigilant example of reformation. Like a battered woman that repeatedly returns to her abusive spouse, those who forgive too quickly and punish lightly, set a bad example and become enablers of bad societal behavior.

To those ends, those who reward talent over honor foster a culture that is on a regressive path. Due to the remuneration involved for owners and players, the commissioners office while seeking to deliver oral gratification (good PR), has obviously put the carriages of money and talent before the horses of honor.

Remember, good judgment comes from experience and experience is often gained from many bad judgment's. The NFL must now deal with the regressive behavior of a culture they have helped foster through many years of bad judgment and enablement.

Based upon the recent "NFL experience", the NFL needs to exert some good judgment. For the good of the sport and society, after years of acting as enablers of bad behavior, the commissioners office is in dire need of a resignation and search for a pair of steel balls to straighten up and reign over the mess.

Do us all a big favor and start that search, while your down there on your knee's, delivering oral gratification (good PR) to overpaid athletes, greedy ownership and the public, check under your desk for that lost pair of balls that have been missing from the office for quite sometime.