NFL players "have been arrested or charged with crimes this year 35 times, the lowest annual number on record" since '00 and "less than half of what the league had nine years ago," according to Brent Schrotenboer of USA TODAY. The reduction marks the "first year of results since the league revised its personal-conduct policy in response to a rash of high-profile domestic violence incidents last year." NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy said, "We are encouraged by this progress but understand we have more work to do." Broncos S David Bruton said the reduction in arrests is "a credit to guys coming in and getting the right education." Bruton: "It's not just the rookie symposium. Veterans still get it. Having the repetitive message definitely helps." Schrotenboer notes among other measures, players "saw a video before this season" featuring former NFLer Donte Stallworth, who "killed a pedestrian while driving drunk" in '09. Stallworth's message in the video was "about making better choices." Arrests also are "down for drunken driving, which historically has been the league's biggest criminal problem." With domestic violence, the league has "had at least six related arrests" in '15, compared with "at least five last year and seven" in '13. McCarthy said that the NFL's internal figures "showed there had been 11 arrests for violent offenses and 28 for non-violent offenses (39 total) since Jan. 1, a 44% decrease in total arrests from the historic average and a 39% decrease in total arrests compared with the same period" in '14 (USA TODAY, 12/18).
