I hate - HATE - that the NFL suspends players for off-field, even off-season, problems. How is this legal? None of our employers could dock our pay for, say, getting in a barfight on a Saturday night, yet the bar just went a lot higher on the penalties for NFL players who screw around.
What are the arguments against me? That players are role models? Not buying it, role models are role models, and parents need to help kids understand the qualities that make someone worth respecting. What else, the image of the NFL? It's not the players' responsibility to help the NFL look good. They're hired to do a job, and PacMan Jones isn't exactly on the clock while he's in a titty bar in Vegas.
Someone, maybe Jones, should take the NFL to court over this. What dominion do they have over a player's personal life? What right to suspend them for off-field activity? Because it's in the collective bargaining agreement? So what, an illegal contract is null and void.
Goodell said “It is a privilege to represent the NFL, not a right.” This means, essentially, that the NFL has player/personnel dominion over teams. That's horseshit - the 32 teams should be responsible alone for who wears their uniform, and how those players are managed. This will work itself out. Is a guy an ass and not worth having on the team? Cut him and let him try to find work elsewhere - just like every other employer in America. If he's truly useless, he'll be a free agent 'til death. But I'm willing to bet there'd be a lot of teams sending an offer sheet to Jones right now.
This crap bothers me. If a guy's in the drunk tank and misses practice, punish him. If he beats his wife and misses MNF because of his court date, suspend him then. If it's freaking March and the guy is accused of acting like an ass in an event unrelated to the NFL...it's not their fucking business.
For the record, you all know I'm not defending Jones per se. He's a complete dipshit, and WVU can suck it. But just because this happened to him doesn't change my opinion on "player conduct" policies. It's all a business isue, not a football issue. If they'd have tried this crap in the early days, Madden would have 0 rings right now. But no, the early Raider teams just "embodied the spirit of the team" or some stuff...guh. Since when are football players supposed to be well behaved anyway?
Posted by Chris at April 10, 2007 03:48 PMWell, why I kind of agree with what you're saying - I'm pretty sure the personal conduct stuff is covered in their contracts and is collectively bargained by the NFLPA. So, they do have to keep their nose clean off-the-field. And I believe Gene Upshaw supports this, so Pac-Man is probably screwed.
So - make sure you read your collective bargaining agreements before you sign your next contract...that's what my agent tells me.
Warren Moon better look out...
Posted by: Pat at April 10, 2007 05:22 PM