The NFL's Punishment Problem Begins and Ends With Rogue Players

Written by John Edward Betancourt

In stunning fashion late last week, Tom Brady's four game suspension for his involvement in Deflategate was overturned in court and it seems that the football world erupted in one incredible divide. There are those, myself included who believe that Brady cheated regardless. There are others out there who firmly believe that the court's decision simply underlines the fact that Commissioner Roger Goodell has become power hungry and is over stepping his bounds every chance he gets. 

But my opinion on the case and the decision and the opinions of others mean nothing quite frankly, because I think this matter is bringing a bigger issue in the NFL to a head. After all, the commish has been dealing with way too many scandals and suspensions, many of which that have been overturned in court as of late, and the recurring theme of those overturned suspensions that I keep hearing is that Roger is overstepping his bounds in totalitarian fashion, and to that I disagree. In fact, I think the commish is simply becoming the scapegoat for the ugly truth that we all don't want to admit as fans. The fact of the matter is, Goodell isn't the problem with the league and its punishment system...the real issue at hand just happens to be some of the players and coaches in this league. 

Think about it for a moment. This is a league that is designed and manufactured to be a beacon of pride and ego for its players and its coaches. Their sole goal every year is to knock off thirty one other teams and emerge as the finest. Legacies matter here, production on the field matters here and that no doubt changes the minds of some of these young men to do it at any cost. Not to mention, when you play for the most popular sport in all of the land, you suddenly feel invincible and it's obvious now that some of these guys clearly feel they can do whatever the hell they want, whenever the hell they want and that's unacceptable. Yet the last year is beginning to prove, that these men cannot stand the idea of ever being held accountable for their actions and that's a scary prospect. 

Don't believe me? Let's take a look at what some of these "upstanding men" have gotten away with. One fine example, Bountygate and the handful of defensive players who were discovered to be taking prize money for players they injured, found their suspensions vacated. Ray Rice, who the entire planet saw punch out his wife on the internet, was suspended indefinitely by the commissioner and had that suspension overturned in court. The list goes on and on, ending with the most recent surprise in Tom Brady and well...I don't want to say it makes me sick, but it makes me extremely disappointed in these players and in the league. The NFL is the top dog right now, no sport can even compete with it, and some of its worst players, men who make poor decisions are getting away with behavior that in the every day world would cost people jobs and in some cases send them to jail.  

---

So here are the questions I have to ask. How is Roger Goodell at fault for being too harsh on these guys? You honestly mean to tell me it's okay what some of these guys have done? Because none of it is okay. These guys simply think they're not only above the Collective Bargaining Agreement they signed a few years ago, but above the game and above any of their actions and that's just wrong and it's clear that none of these players would ever stand before the fans and own up to their mistakes, which is ironic considering such an act would not doubt aid their cause and the all important legacy since Tom Brady will forever have a cloud hanging over his head when it comes to the discussion of him being the greatest of all time, but I digress.  

Plus, I should take a moment and point out that this isn't a rampant problem in the league, as far as we know. There are plenty of players that respect the game, respect its history and understand how incredible it is to be here and be a part of something so wonderful and often times those are the players who pull a suspension and serve it and never say a word. But it's this new element, the ones who think they are bigger than the game that concern me. No one is bigger than the game, no one is bigger than the league and it's not something you fix by using the court of public opinion. Because in Brady's case, New England fans feel he did no wrong, so bias there cannot be relied upon to fix this and the courts continue to overturn suspension after suspension. 

The only clear answer to me appears to be an addendum to the CBA that puts the player in question into binding arbitration with the league and a committee of his fellow players, a coach or two and a league executive and those handful of men decide their fate. I'm sure some players will still think the decision will be unjust, but it keeps the matter within the league and at the least, it won't fall on the shoulders of one man. Either way, something has to change, because crying about your punishment is for one, pathetic and it sends out the wrong message when you're a role model that it's okay to do something bad and fight and cry until people see it your way and more importantly all of these discussions and stories about the league like this would go away if the players in question exercised a little common sense. Maybe don't cheat? Maybe don't break the law? Crazy idea I know. 

So, enough about Roger Goodell and his "power hungry" ways please. He's not power hungry. He's doing his damn job as outlined in the CBA. He's asking men to be men. He's making sure the integrity of the game and the game itself matters above all else and he's laying down harsh punishments for the ones who think they're above all that. Let's focus on those guys, the ones whose egos have blown out of control, who believe winning the wrong way matters and make sure their rogue decisions are always remembered as separate from the game, so that what the league and all the great things it stands for...can move on without them. 

---