The "spate of off-field violence, nearly all of it
directed at women, has profoundly embarrassed many N.F.L.
players, coaches and owners," according to Mike Freeman of
the N.Y. TIMES, who wrote in a Sports cover story, "They
have begun demanding that the league act much more
forcefully against those who do not ... restrain their
aggression when they leave the playing field." Though NFL
execs say that the number of players "charged with violent
crimes" has declined over the last three years, interviews
with many NFL players, coaches and team execs "showed a deep
consensus within professional football: people think the
league is still not doing enough to combat off-field
violence" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/9). In Indianapolis, Phil Richards
examined NFL players with off-the-field troubles under the
header, "NFL, Colts Address Off-Field Abuse: The case of
Steve Muhammad adds to the perception that pro athletes live
in [a] separate world with their own rules" (INDY STAR,
1/8). On the "Tonight Show," Jay Leno referred to the legal
woes of current and former NFL players: "Jim Brown sentenced
to six months in jail for vandalizing his wife's car, Rae
Carruth facing murder charges, Cecil Collins arrested for
breaking into people's homes. Just imagine how bad it would
be if football didn't build character" (NBC, 1/7).
