NFL Personal Conduct Policy (insert laugh)....

Tags: nfl, bucky

NFL Personal Conduct Policy (insert laugh)...

Expires: 20-Mar-2007 18:35

PackersWest

2 Votes
20%

Well, here we go. NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Does the NFL really think anyone cares that the criminals (insert many NFL players) need a policy to guide off the field conduct? I think not, but I do love the fact that they spell out the conduct unbecoming of an NFL player (i.e. killing someone etc.). Funny that I did not get this warning when I started my new job. Maybe I should go on crime spree this weekend? I would love to have one of you tell me why this righteous act by the NFL is needed.
Reasons this is ludicrous:
Reason #1: This will make no difference in players conduct - see federal mandatory minimums drug penalties (failure)
Reason #2: A lawyer at NFL league office and a PR person drafted and pushed to have this policy, no one else.
Reason #3: Fans and viewers don't care what happens off the field.
If you are interested in reading the prohibited conduct see below:
Prohibited conduct
It will be considered conduct detrimental for Covered Persons to engage in (or to aid, abet or conspire to engage in or to incite) violent and/or criminal activity. Examples of such Prohibited Conduct include, without limitation: any crime involving the use or threat of physical violence to a person or persons; the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a crime; possession or distribution of a weapon in violation of state or federal law; involvement in "hate crimes" or crimes of domestic violence; theft, larceny or other property crimes; sex offenses; racketeering; money laundering; obstruction of justice; resisting arrest; fraud; and violent or threatening conduct. Additionally, Covered Persons shall not by their words or conduct suggest that criminal activity is acceptable or condoned within the NFL.

elswede

8 Votes
80%

This is not just an NFL policy coming down from the halls of the league office, it is a contractual agreement between the NFL and its players union. This agreement gives the NFL Players Union and the league a way to protect the goodwill they have created with their fans and sponsors. With this agreement there are ways to intervene immediately, early on in a situation rather than waiting to see what the legal proceedings uncover. "Any Covered Person arrested for or charged with conduct prohibited by this policy will be required to undergo an immediate, mandatory clinical evaluation and, if directed, appropriate counseling."

What is most disturbing about your smackdown is your reason #3 that “fans do not care what happens off the field.” It is a sad commentary on our society that we not care about the character of a person, just how big and fast are you and how many touchdowns can you score. I do have faith that this is not the prominent position of sports fans or people like Pete Rose would be in the hall of fame, OJ Simpson would still be affiliated with the NFL and guys like Mark McGuire & Samy Sosa would still be heroes of baseball. Is it too much to ask that someone paid millions of dollars to play a game to be held to a certain level of personal conduct? Why do so many want to continue the cycle of letting athletes’ commit crimes, but not let them serve the penalties for those crimes so we keep them on our favorite teams? This problem of character is not something the NFL has created it is a manifestation of years of looking the other way. It has to start with that Little League coach pulling out his star player when his conduct is unbecoming, a high school teacher having the courage to fail a student not performing even if it means losing a game or two or a parent teaching a child that how you play the game is as important as the outcome of the game.

I applaud the Players’ Union and NFL for putting some mechanisms in place to help protect the sport of professional football. Wouldn’t it be nice if other entertainment industries could have as much courage.

See http://www.nflpa.org/R... for more information on this agreement.

ReadComments

SmackDaddy (voted for elswede)

15-Mar-07 19:42

I agree with PW on Reasons #1 and #2 and that the policy is largely a knee-jerk PR-based reaction to recent disturbing off-field indescretions. Despite that, elsewede presents an excellent retort which actually hits at the crux of the situation. The points go to elsewede.

smithala (voted for PackersWest)

15-Mar-07 20:11

The code of conduct is a shame. It is a PR response. In the end, I don't really see fans caring one way or another. I hear Packer fans being upset over the handling of the Koren Robinson affair. Someone who should no longer be given a chance to play the game. Or anyone really protesting the obvious steriod issue taking place on and off the field. Need I point out Merriman issue, or better yet the off-the-field Steve Foley issue for the same Chargers. If fans really cared, we'd stop going to the games or ordering the NFL package. Yet still, the players get worse, and the NFL sells tickets, jerseys, etc. The players aren't abiding by whatever is in place, and the NFL isn't really planning on strictly enforcing this, knowing we'd be missing on a Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Ricky Williams, Koren Robinson, Randy Moss, Tank Johnson, and my personal favorite PacMan Jones story. It's garbage and fans don't really care, as long as their team is winning.

First String Dabber (voted for elswede)

16-Mar-07 09:50

I don't think the rules exist under the illusion of shaping players' personal behavior as much as they exist to state what, in general, is unacceptable. While I agree in general that players should not have to be of flawless character in order to earn the right to shoot a hoop, let's not pretend that athletes are famous merely for their abilities in the game. Because of the way sports are televised, athletes rise to the status of icon and role model. And when they get arrested for squatting in a backwoods sublet or marrying Carmen Electra (that's a crime, right?) it creates a cultural dischord for them to receive the same amount of public accolade as they did before. Since they're not only famous for being athletes, and since they become public icons, why not hold them accountable for their behavior that becomes public? Let's not pretend that there's an agency out there knocking on doors of third string Gonzaga point guards making sure they're sipping tea with their pinky down.

elswede (voted for elswede)

16-Mar-07 07:22

I forgot one part of my response in my glee over the VCU win last night, PackerWest the reason you don't have a policy like this at your work is because you do not work in a union environment. Without this agreement between the NFLPA and the League it is impossible to take any action against a player for character issues off of the field.