Marshawn, Belichick, and the NFL Soap Opera

Put ME in Charge!

Marshawn, we all love how you run.  But we deplore your hypocrisy.  You have a charity to benefit the youth of the neighborhood you came from.  But what message are you sending them when:

1.  You ignore what you promised to do when you signed your contract with the NFL (you promised to make yourself available to the media but you do not);

2.  You arrogantly walk into the end zone knowing perfectly well that is taunting and should have, in the playoffs, cost your team a touchdown and fifteen yards;

3.  You grab your crotch when you score, even though you've been fined for that before.

This behavior is telling those youth you claim you care about that the rules don't apply to you, that your word (your signature) means nothing because you're talented and bad and whatever.  Is that really what you want them to take away from your success? That the rich and talented don't have to live by the rules?  That rules and agreements can be broken if you think it's cool to do so?  

If I were the NFL I would sit you for the second half of the Superbowl game as a penalty.  But more on the ineptitude of the NFL later.

Underinflated balls?  Really?  And this AFTER spy gate?  Those balls were provided by the Patriot organization.  Penalize the organization in some meaningful, painful way.  Not just a fine.  The quarterback, at least, knew they were underinflated because he handled them every snap.  For his failure to report the problem, suspend him the next game (the superbowl) with loss of both game pay and superbowl bonus.  Each receiver knew, if they caught balls, that the balls were underinflated.  They elected not to report it.  Bench them for the next game.  Ditto the running backs.

However, money talks.  The superbowl is BIG money for the NFL, so what they will do is invent some harsh-sounding but essentially meaningless and non-crippling punishment.  The superbowl will not be impacted.

So put your Ostrich Killer in charge of NFL discipline.  Here's what I would do:

1.  Develop, implement, and enforce a standard penalty system for infractions.  No more making it all up as we go along, as the NFL seems to be doing.  For example, intentionally breach your contract (like Marshawn does) and suffer an automatic one game suspension - the next game - along with the loss of that game's pay.  Next infraction the penalties double, and include your coaches.  Each subsequent infraction penalty doubles the previous one.

2.  Any felony investigation seats that player with pay until either a verdict is returned or charges are not pressed.

3.  Get rid of 'special' offense penalties - examples include domestic violence, DUI, etc - and let the legal system handle them.  See the next rule for more on this.

4.  Have a clause in all contracts with players and anyone else working for the NFL that "conduct unbecoming to you, your team, or the NFL" is grounds for firing.  A board made up of ex-military officers (who are very familiar with the 'conduct unbecoming' meaning) would preside over any appeals.  This particular clause is about NFL image, and if I'm commissioner of the NFL I want that to shine.  Children are watching, after all, and are easily impressed.  What will they learn?  That everyone has to follow rules and obey laws, or that talent and revenue stream trumps all?

Are you as tired of the NFL soap opera and amateurish handling of misconduct as your Ostrich Killer is?  Then send Roger Goodell a link to this blog post.

It's too late for coffee.  I think I saw a beer in the refrigerator . . .