Anyone have any ideas on how the NFL can really clean it's image up??

[low_N_breezy]

I keep hearing that the NFL has to start coming down harder on players with bad behavior but should it be up to the NFL??

By the time these players get to the NFL they have starstruck everyone from classmates to Biology teachers to local sherrifs who have all let them by thru life. Let alone the fact that the lowly H.S. coach who has to win games to fullfill his dream of moving his up in his career, Has to choose between paying his mortgage (by winning) or being a disiplinarian (and losing a star) will never choose disipline.

To fix this issue really seems impossible at this point because kids will always get into trouble in some kind of way. Unless coaches and programs from pop warner up thru college get some kind of pass when they have disipline a star player and cut him loose we cant expect coaches who's family's meals are gonna come from there team winning to do anything more than look the other way.

By the players getting this pass thru life they come to the NFL with an untouchable attitude. I understand the NFL is just needing to nip this behavior but is there anyway to stop this behavior before they hit the NFL??

Any thoughts?

[Ness]

Everyone is different. I don't think you can change people. Or rather, it's very hard to.

[IowaNinersFan]

Get rid of organizations like The Faiders, Cowpies and Bungals. :nana:

[Ness]

fine and suspend more harshly then they already do. i find it extremely comical when the NFL suspends a millionaire 5-10k for something. they need to step up their game.

Yeah. Just increase the fines and suspension time. Of course the NFL probably won't do that.

[Peter Proud]

Seeing as putting money in someone's pocket doesn't neccessarily make them smarter, by the same token taking money out won't make them smarter either.

Maybe if the league started making eligbility for the draft similar to entrance requirements for college.

The lower the SAT score, the higher GPA the high school senior needs.

For the NFL, let's tie draft eligbility to GPA and academic standing.

Once he achieves sophmore standing he must have a 3.5 GPA eligbile to enter the draft.

Once he achieves junior status he only needs a 3.0 GPA.

Once he recieves senior status, he only needs a 2.5 GPA.

Once a BA degree has been earned, the GPA does not matter.

[Optimus Moo]

fine and suspend more harshly then they already do. i find it extremely comical when the NFL suspends a millionaire 5-10k for something. they need to step up their game.

Yeah. Just increase the fines and suspension time. Of course the NFL probably won't do that.

yep, as player salaries increase significantly along with the sports popularity why would the fines and suspensions?

Why not make the fines percentage-based instead of fixed amount? This way, while 10K may be a drop in the bucket to some, if it's a percentage, that becomes a significantly larger dollar figure. Regardless of your income bracket, you'll feel the impact.

[Peter Proud]

if a college only requires a 2.0 to graduate how can you expect the NFL to raise it's bar even higher? in addition to that, a college GPA does not directly relate to off the field issues or conduct in any way. i just don't see how a GPA rule changes conduct?

Seeing as putting money in someone's pocket doesn't neccessarily make them smarter, by the same token taking money out won't make them smarter either.

Maybe if the league started making eligbility for the draft similar to entrance requirements for college.

The lower the SAT score, the higher GPA the high school senior needs.

For the NFL, let's tie draft eligbility to GPA and academic standing.

Once he achieves sophmore standing he must have a 3.5 GPA eligbile to enter the draft.

Once he achieves junior status he only needs a 3.0 GPA.

Once he recieves senior status, he only needs a 2.5 GPA.

Once a BA degree has been earned, the GPA does not matter.

The players that have made it to the NFL with higher GPA's have had fewer off-field problems. It would keep most of the superstar underclassmen in school longer allowing them time to mature and allow a longer evaluation time of their personal character by the NFL.

[BrentJones84]

I keep hearing that the NFL has to start coming down harder on players with bad behavior but should it be up to the NFL??

By the time these players get to the NFL they have starstruck everyone from classmates to Biology teachers to local sherrifs who have all let them by thru life. Let alone the fact that the lowly H.S. coach who has to win games to fullfill his dream of moving his up in his career, Has to choose between paying his mortgage (by winning) or being a disiplinarian (and losing a star) will never choose disipline.

To fix this issue really seems impossible at this point because kids will always get into trouble in some kind of way. Unless coaches and programs from pop warner up thru college get some kind of pass when they have disipline a star player and cut him loose we cant expect coaches who's family's meals are gonna come from there team winning to do anything more than look the other way.

By the players getting this pass thru life they come to the NFL with an untouchable attitude. I understand the NFL is just needing to nip this behavior but is there anyway to stop this behavior before they hit the NFL??

Any thoughts?


The problem with your theory LB is not every football gets into trouble. Joe Montana, Steve Young, Peyton, Brady, Rice, Frank Gore, etc...all model citizens. I'd say far more players are good citizens than those who aren't.

As far as stopping it before the NFL, I'd say the NCAA is far more strict on players than the NFL is many respects.

The NFL just needs to asert it's right that playing in the NFL is a privalige and not a right. Fines may not impact those who have money to spare, but suspensions, especially long ones, would go a long way.

A player may (or may not) care about losing 10K when he makes a few mill, but sitting at home while his team is playing without him cuts into who he is.

[BrentJones84]

Seeing as putting money in someone's pocket doesn't neccessarily make them smarter, by the same token taking money out won't make them smarter either.

Maybe if the league started making eligbility for the draft similar to entrance requirements for college.

The lower the SAT score, the higher GPA the high school senior needs.

For the NFL, let's tie draft eligbility to GPA and academic standing.

Once he achieves sophmore standing he must have a 3.5 GPA eligbile to enter the draft.

Once he achieves junior status he only needs a 3.0 GPA.

Once he recieves senior status, he only needs a 2.5 GPA.

Once a BA degree has been earned, the GPA does not matter.

But this would hurt someone like a Frank Gore who is not known to be a trouble maker, and there are plenty of trouble makes out there who are pretty book smart.

[Optimus Moo]

... but how much more time do you need to examine a guys life after the age of 21 to know his character?

Money changes people. And money or not, people also change over time. Just because you're squeaky clean at ages 18 through 21, it doesn't mean you'll always be that way. I mean, what about TO? Who would've thought he'd had turned into a headcase? (Not that he was a legal issue, but just a headcase all around.)

Finally, here's a story from former Titans GM Floyd Reese on Pacman Jones. I consider it a must-read for the subject at hand:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=reese_floyd&id=2815654&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

Adam "Pacman" Jones went through this type of a process. Prior to the 2005 draft, Jones had one issue in his past. While enrolled at West Virginia University, Jones was involved in a fight. He was arrested and put on probation for the incident. Still, coaches' evaluations, support group evaluations, educational evaluations and personality profiling of Jones were all excellent. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone inside West Virginia University who would say anything negative about him.

[SB49er4life]

I keep hearing that the NFL has to start coming down harder on players with bad behavior but should it be up to the NFL??

By the time these players get to the NFL they have starstruck everyone from classmates to Biology teachers to local sherrifs who have all let them by thru life. Let alone the fact that the lowly H.S. coach who has to win games to fullfill his dream of moving his up in his career, Has to choose between paying his mortgage (by winning) or being a disiplinarian (and losing a star) will never choose disipline.

To fix this issue really seems impossible at this point because kids will always get into trouble in some kind of way. Unless coaches and programs from pop warner up thru college get some kind of pass when they have disipline a star player and cut him loose we cant expect coaches who's family's meals are gonna come from there team winning to do anything more than look the other way.

By the players getting this pass thru life they come to the NFL with an untouchable attitude. I understand the NFL is just needing to nip this behavior but is there anyway to stop this behavior before they hit the NFL??

Any thoughts?

You know, I don't condone some of the things these guys are doing like starting brawls that alter lives and hitting pregnant women or any of that crap, but what ever happened to confidentiality ???

Seriously, man, these guys are paid to be entertainers and athletes, people are gonna be people, make mistakes, do things their way and what not, why not just worry about what they do ON THE FIELD and just leave all the other crap outta the news ?

We, the fans, are as much to blame for all this as the anyone else. It's up to parents to step up and be around to teach kids right from wrong, not depend on All-Pro's to do the role-modeling and parenting for them. And for being so ******* nosey and caring so much about other peoples business.

Should these guys have consequences for their actions ? Of course, everyone needs to be held accountable for what they do. But it's not right for anyone that every little incident makes front headlines,

You point out that kids will get into trouble regardless; you couldn't be more right. Whether they're in the NFL or not, THESE THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN ! It's not as if athletes are the only ones guilty of these crimes.

Any kinda punishment the commish hands out or different guidelines or whatever crazy plan is made might make little difference, if any; guys that do this kinda stuff simply don't care for rules, so whats it gonna matter if you make more rules ?

Let the LAW deal with LAW-BREAKERS. If you don't want kids thinking spousal abuse and drug dealing are cool, talk to them about it, don't blame professional sports.

[SB49er4life]

Money changes people. And money or not, people also change over time. Just because you're squeaky clean at ages 18 through 21, it doesn't mean you'll always be that way. I mean, what about TO? Who would've thought he'd had turned into a headcase? (Not that he was a legal issue, but just a headcase all around.)

Finally, here's a story from former Titans GM Floyd Reese on Pacman Jones. I consider it a must-read for the subject at hand:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=reese_floyd&id=2815654&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab4pos1

That's just what he got CAUGHT for... we can't be so naive.

I know people who have done some serious dirt who for the most part got pretty clean records. But then you get guys who might have 1 or 2 misdemeanor marijuana charges who get tabbed as having "serious character issues".

[euronimous]

fine and suspend more harshly then they already do. i find it extremely comical when the NFL suspends a millionaire 5-10k for something. they need to step up their game.

I couldnt agree more!

[Fez]

fine and suspend more harshly then they already do. i find it extremely comical when the NFL suspends a millionaire 5-10k for something. they need to step up their game.

Absolutely. The NFL should suspend 1 or 2 games and a large amount of cash for a felony, and leave it to a bigger fine (than the current ones) for a misdemeanor.

And obviously, bigger punishments for repeated offenders.

[Fez]

What does the poster boy for misconduct in the NFL have to say?

But during a brief telephone interview with NFL Network afterward, Henry didn't sound as though he had learned his lesson. At one point, interviewer Rich Eisen asked Henry what he would say to fans who are scratching their heads at Henry's repeated off-field problems, and Henry said, "They're really not true fans, I guess."

Link (http://nfl.aolsportsblog.com/2007/04/03/chris-henry-those-who-doubt-him-really-not-true-fans/)

:nonono:

[Nilsen31]

there are going to be those young, cocky, immature, arrogant guys who come into some money is gonna think he's the #### and think he's untouchable...and then get into trouble.


but for the most part, NFL players are just swell.

[Nilsen31]

but yes, if the trend continues the image of the players will go down the drain...

how to fix it? I'm not sure.

[mikeyv]

why not have a 3 strike rule mess up 3 times your out of the nfl. then people like pacman and henry wont make it out of training camp. being an athlete is a privledge and should be taken away from those who dont want follow the rules. i do believe people can change that said to be re instated to the nfl you should have to have a 6 months of clean back ground.

[low_N_breezy]

why not have a 3 strike rule mess up 3 times your out of the nfl. then people like pacman and henry wont make it out of training camp. being an athlete is a privledge and should be taken away from those who dont want follow the rules. i do believe people can change that said to be re instated to the nfl you should have to have a 6 months of clean back ground.


The problem with that is with 1800 players in the nfl that is grounds for 5400 strikes and 5400 news articles and 5400 black etes. I know every player in the NFL isnt gonna get into trouble but 3 strikes still leaves room for A LOT of trouble

[94949'er]

obviously the fines are irrelevant, but the suspensions hit 'em where it hurts. no pay during suspensions often means hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages. just beef up the suspension guidelines.

[low_N_breezy]

I say they need to release some of these people permanentlyfrom the NFL.

I hear that is on the ballot

[Mr Spoons]

Problem is..no matter how bad someone screws up, if they are top talent, someone will take them back (it's why TO has a job...), and in a society as litigious as the US, I'm sure the first guy with a life ban for 3 "minor" indiscretions (traffic violations, a scuffle in a casino or bar) will sue the NFL and probably win, on the basis that he has served his debt to society by paying a fine and should not be discriminated against because of a record.

[CAG21]

I don't know how I would fix the kids before they got to the NFL, but once in the NFL I would implement a strict 2 strike rule. (I believe most people deserve a 2nd chance). If you blow your 2nd chance, then you're out of the league for good, with no chance of reinstatement.