NFL Giants President & CEO John Mara said NFL execs now are "responding the right way" to off-the-field scandals that have plagued the league this season, but added, "we need to do a better job handling these issues, and I think this [new personal conduct policy] is a step in the right direction," according to Jenny Vrentas of THE MMQB. Mara: "We want our standards to be higher, we want there to be more education, and we want the penalties to be tougher, because we want to do what we can to put an end to domestic violence and sexual assault." Mara said of why he believes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should retain the final say in personal conduct matters, "Because why would you want to have people who are unfamiliar with our business, and who do not have any vested interest in the business, making those decisions? When that’s happened in other sports, I think you end up seeing a reduction in the discipline that’s imposed and a lowering of the standards. That’s what our concern is" (MMQB.SI.com, 12/12).
AGREE TO DISAGREE: NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith said, "The league typically does not want the union at the table when they want to make a unilateral decision. ... When the league made a decision that they did not want this same process that covers virtually every aspect of our relationship to also cover the personal conduct policy, it was the wrong decision. So we will continue to fight." He added, "In a few days, we will be sending a letter to the National Football League outlining all of the instances of owner misconduct that have occurred during this year. We look forward to, again, seeing whether or not they are true to their words. When we find out that the league will impose the new policy against all of the instances of owner misconduct this year, then we will know whether or not this is truly a policy that applies to all or whether it is one that is just cherry-picked to apply to the player.” Smith added, “The last year has been really one of the lowest moments in the history of the National Football League. Not only because of just horrible acts of misconduct, but mismanagement by the National Football League.” ESPN’s Mike Golic said, “There's a horrible relationship now with the union and the league. I don't know when it's going to get better or what's going to help it get better” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 12/15).
POWER PLAY: In Boston, Ben Volin noted while this "wasn’t touted in the NFL’s press release, the policy does nothing to reduce Goodell’s power or authority." If anything, his stature atop the league "has only been strengthened during this ordeal." While it "portends to divest some of Goodell’s authority -- he no longer will dole out the initial punishment, and has a cadre of experts to rely upon for guidance -- the reality is that all discipline still falls under Goodell’s umbrella, and the owners are sticking with Goodell as the decider of appeals instead of using an independent arbitrator, as had been requested" by the NFLPA. Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said Goodell "is the one person who understands the long-term best interests of the game." Kraft added an arbitrator "can compromise or water down what our best interests are." Volin wrote the owners "can’t control an independent arbitrator," while Goodell "knows how to operate within the 'best interests' of the league -- which is to avoid negative PR, deflect blame from the owners, and keep the TV money rolling in" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/14). The N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica said, "As long as he has the last word, then this becomes a flood system and especially in the eyes of the players' association." espnW's Kate Fagan added, "He basically has the same power that he had before; it just looks different. ... What has the NFL really learned? If it's still not going to be able to respond in a smart, intelligent way and that's where the trouble comes" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN2, 12/14). But in Rochester, Leo Roth wrote as it relates to the new policy, he can not understand why the NFLPA "is so riled up, other than it didn't get the chance to grandstand, stomp its feet and generally get in the way, like it usually does." Roth wrote Goodell "stayed in the game and ... pushed through a revised conduct policy that I agree is stronger, tougher and better." It is better because it "establishes clear standards of behavior" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 12/14). CBS Sports Network's Amy Trask said of the new policy, "[It's] a great step in the right direction. There needs to be -- and presumably we're on the road to -- a clearly articulated comprehensive policy, which is consistently interpreted and consistently applied" ("The NFL Today," CBS, 12/14).
TEFLON DONS? President Obama on Friday during an appearance on ESPN Radio's "The Herd With Colin Cowherd" said, "There has been a little bit of an old boys network in terms of how (the NFL) operates. There have been some blind spots that are rooted not just in pro football but dating back to college football and certain behaviors have been tolerated historically that really should not have been tolerated. Hopefully this is a wake-up call" (LATIMES.com, 12/12). Meanwhile, in Boston, Bob Ryan wrote concussions, domestic abuse, fatal DUIs and a commissioner who "has been adjudged by an arbitrator to have been at odds with the truth in an important matter" are "all stains on the so-called NFL 'brand.'" However, "hardly anyone cares." Ryan: "King Football shrugs them all off. ... All the above are mere minor blips on the NFL radar screen. The product is too compelling for a little thing such as morality to interfere with America’s viewing pleasure" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/14).
