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Thread: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

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    The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Yeah, I’m angry. I’m angry about the new “enforcement” of the tackles against “defenseless” players rule. I’m angry, but not for the reasons that you may think.

    I understand that at all levels of football, there is a movement to reduce head injuries. Good. I’m all for it. By all means, make the game safer. However, it can be done within the confines of keeping the game the way it was meant to be played.

    Here is my problem: In Roger Goodell, we have a commissioner that has neither the experience nor the ethics to enforce this rule.

    Let's look at the ethical problem that we face with this enforcement. Goodell has been adamant in his push for an 18-game season. He wishes to do this by eliminating two preseason games. You see, Goodell notices all those empty seats at the preseason games, and that monetary calculator that he had installed in place of an actual brain starts counting the missing revenue in each seat. Therefore, his logical conclusion is to extend the season.

    Now the commissioner would have us believe that with every hard hit he now places one hand over his heart and gets teary eyed over those poor young men in which he is emotionally vested. Excuse me why I stick a finger down my throat.

    Goodell knows that an extension of the season by two games raises the risk of injury to a starting player by approximately 15%. While talking out of one side of his mouth about how much he cares, he is pushing an agenda that is detrimental to the health of the players. His hypocrisy is amplified by the fact that he is using this new enforcement as actual leverage for adding two games. By his logic, the crackdown on hard hits will enable players to play more games. Again, he ignores the fact that not all hard hits are illegal and that more games will take a greater toll on the body of EVERY starter, not just those who receive those hits.

    Perhaps Goodell’s lack of ethics is even more obvious in the fact that after being approached over and over again into investing more money into post retirement pensions and medical plans, he has balked every time at placing any of the billions of dollars of profit into helping players after they leave the game. If he is so emotionally vested, then where is the sympathy and support for those players who spent a career making the NFL the most lucrative sport in the world? The NFL has no problem cashing in on the DVDs that celebrate the hard hits these players inflicted or received while playing, so please explain how a person with even the slightest bit of morality can not only ignore those players now, but also wave a tear soaked hanky at those same sort of plays made last week.

    The newest decision coming from the commissioner’s office is just another arbitrary ruling made by a man who is painfully showing his lack of practical football experience. Make no mistake about it, a commissioner who had played the game would have approached this issue in a different way. Goodell would have us believe that every time the head of a defenseless player is hit, it’s a penalty. Even the most casual of fans know that NFL football is played at such a level that it is impossible to stop trajectory, or predict how the ball carrier is going to react. If this ruling is all about “following the rules”, then enforce the holding calls that hamstring defensive players. Goodell is not going to do that. It was never any more about the “rules” then it was about “caring”. It's about justifying his agenda.

    Be prepared for the result of the pressure that is going to be laid at the feet of the NFL refs. There is no way that Goodell will allow the brunt of this ruling to continue to be piled at his door. You can bet that he has already spoken to the head of officiating and mandated that they start enforcing his ruling. From the viewpoint of the fan this is going to mean we will have to endure refs (who are only human) to make educated guesses as to what just happened in a bang-bang play. Was it a hit to the shoulder or the head? With the right amount of pressure applied by the commissioner, the refs are going to err on the side of job security. That means a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for every “guess” made by the officials. This is the end result of a commissioner that has no idea of how to differentiate between the inherent violence of the game and a legitimate intent to cause harm.

    No one wants to see players injured. Anyone who pretends to think that there is a portion of fans who do is simply building a strawman argument. What fans want is a commissioner who is less arbitrary and less money driven. Let all the decisions that come out of Goodell’s office be less about how he can put finances before
    fans, and all of us will be able to take the medicine, knowing that it's sweetened with good intentions.



    © 2010 Steelers Universe

  2. #2
    SteelerSal
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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Um,,,,Gary, you need to give Perry the reps I just gave you by mistake.

    Good article!!

  3. #3

    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by SteelerSal View Post
    Um,,,,Gary, you need to give Perry the reps I just gave you by mistake.

    Good article!!
    LOL!! Thanks Sal.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

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    SteelerSal
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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    You have it now, Perry.

    Gary got a freebie.

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    Senior Member Array title="Butch has a reputation beyond repute"> Butch's Avatar

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Excellent post and I totally agree this guy is all about the Dollar. He is ruining the sport with his stupid rule changes. This year the hits, before that play the stupid pro bowl before the Superbowl, talking about playing a Superbowl overseas, and extending the season. I really can't stand this guy, I just wish there was something the fans could do to get him out of office.

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by Butch View Post
    Excellent post and I totally agree this guy is all about the Dollar. He is ruining the sport with his stupid rule changes. This year the hits, before that play the stupid pro bowl before the Superbowl, talking about playing a Superbowl overseas, and extending the season. I really can't stand this guy, I just wish there was something the fans could do to get him out of office.
    ...And dont forget "flex scheduling", which sounds like a great ideal for those of us sitting on our couches on sunday nights...but fans (like my brother) who have bought tickets for a 3 pm game...and prepare to fly in from out of town...get told "sorry...but the game has been moved to 7pm". My brother had to leave a game during the 3rd quarter because of flex scheduling to make his flight.

    Hey..screw the fan who spend his hard earned cash to support his team...we have TV revenue to worry about!!!!!
    Last edited by LLT; 11-01-2010 at 10:34 AM.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

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    Spaghetti Time Array title="Chidi29 has a reputation beyond repute"> Chidi29's Avatar

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    I've been meaning to get around to this but haven't had the time.

    To start with, a well written article LLT. I hope you continue to write editorals and since this is your third, I assume you will be. Look forward to reading them.

    But I have to disagree with you on a couple points.

    When I first saw someone make the point of the NFL being hypocritical for advocating player safety yet pushing for an 18 game schedule, I agreed. It seemed hypocritical.

    But I think what Goodell is looking for is the ability to have a game that doesn't have flagrant hits that cause severe injury or the potential to do so unnecessary. We can have an 18 game schedule and that potential eliminated. I'd think, or like to think, that he realizes player's safety will always be in jeporday when they step out onto the field. If we truly wanted to eliminate the risk for injury, we wouldn't play football. Instead of a Super Bowl, we'd play Charades to determine a champion. (Mendenhall! If it wasn't Jaws the first time, why would it be the sixth!). I smell a sitcom brewing.

    Think of it this way.

    Player safety has always said to have been important to commissioner. Bell, Rozelle, Taglibue, and Goodell, you name it.

    More games have always been added to the schedule. We've gone from 10 to 12 to 14 and finally to 16 as I recall.

    If you want to still call it hypocritical, fine by me. But it isn't an issue central to Goodell. He's doing the same thing the people befre him did.

    I agree with you that this heavier enforcement in rules is due to outside influence and not because Goodell weeps at night because someone got hurt (though the thought of Goodell weeping might be a happy one in the mind of some fans).But as I wrote, I think it's something that has to be done. If they don't do it now, Congress will do it later. Or the NFLPA will file a lawsuit and the league will be up a certain creek without a paddle.

    I know you wrote this before the fact so I'm not trying to blame you for it, but the NFL has seemed within their boundaries so far. Not a single player has been suspended and there have still been some big hits. Heck, Merriweather lit up a guy the week after getting hit with a 50K fine. Dansy knocked Ocho out of the game.

    Personally, this whole situation has been blown out of proportion.

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by Chidi29 View Post
    Personally, this whole situation has been blown out of proportion.
    Not when someone like Polamalu speaks out about it, at least IMO. It's one thing for a guy like Harrison to say something about it, but when someone like Troy says it, it's more likely that there is something to it. Additionally, Rooney has publicly chastised the league office over this and Tomlin has too. If anyone has blown this thing out of proportion, it's been the media.

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by fansince'76 View Post
    Not when someone like Polamalu speaks out about it, at least IMO. It's one thing for a guy like Harrison to say something about it, but when Troy says it, it seems like there is something to it. Additionally, Rooney has publicly chastised the league office over this and Tomlin has too. If anyone has blown this thing out of proportion, it's been the media.
    I didn't specifically say the players blew it out of proportion. I'd agree that the media made a bigger deal about it then it really is.

  10. #10

    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by Chidi29 View Post
    I didn't specifically say the players blew it out of proportion. I'd agree that the media made a bigger deal about it then it really is.
    Thanks for the Kudos Chidi...greatly appreciated.

    Here is my problem.

    You are correct in saying that the season has been extended prior to Goodell being the commish...and it also would be correct in saying that the game has became more "violent" due to better conditioning and weight programs. Goodell would use both of those facts to back up his proposal to extend the season by 2 games.

    The problem is that the inherent violence ,that is now part of the game, does not begin or end with head to head hits. There is enough physical contact...enough extreme "pushing" of players bodies...that the extension of the season by two more games will ensure injuries...will ensure playoff games that involve teams that have lost starting players. I think we have reached a "critical limit" to the amount of games that players can realistically be involved in, when you consider post-season play.

    The other side of this problem is that Goodell has put the onus of these hits upon the defensive players. How long before these highly competitive offensive players see the loop hole of turning a 1 yard game (or loss) into a 15 yard penalty by simply ducking their head into the defensive player. By Goodells own enforcement (see Harrisons hit against Massaquoi as the WR was lowering his body to grab the loose ball) of the rule, that is a flagrant unsportmanlike hit and should be flagged. Theoretically we could end up with MORE head/neck injuries due to Goodells arbitrary enforcement and lack of football experience.
    Last edited by LLT; 11-06-2010 at 01:31 PM.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by LLT View Post
    Thanks for the Kudos Chidi...greatly appreciated.

    Here is my problem.

    You are correct in saying that the season has been extended prior to Goodell being the commish...and it also would be correct in saying that the game has became more "violent" due to better conditioning and weight programs. Goodell would use both of those facts to back up his proposal to extend the season by 2 games.

    The problem is that the inherent violence ,that is now part of the game, does not begin or end with head to head hits. There is enough physical contact...enough extreme "pushing" of players bodies...that the extension of the season by two more games will ensure injuries...will ensure playoff games that involve teams that have lost starting players. I think we have reached a "critical limit" to the amount of games that players can realistically be involved in, when you consider post-season play.

    The other side of this problem is that Goodell has put the onus of these hits upon the defensive players. How long before these highly competitive offensive players see the loop hole of turning a 1 yard game (or loss) into a 15 yard penalty by simply ducking their head into the defensive player. By Goodells own enforcement (see Harrisons hit against Massaquoi as the WR was lowering his body to grab the loose ball) of the rule, that is a flagrant unsportmanlike hit and should be flagged. Theoretically we could end up with MORE head/neck injuries due to Goodells arbitrary enforcement and lack of football experience.
    I find it hard to accept your first point. I'm sure the same things were said before when the schedule was extended to sixteen. 14 was enough; the game couldn't handle a sixteen game schedule. It's hard to get any tangible data on your claim that would show an increase in danger that we haven't seen before.

    As to your second point, you don't decide against a rule/enforcement because someone is going to find a loophole. If we didn't create or enforce laws because someone is going to attempt to exploit it, there wouldn't be any laws. If in your mind the rule is going to do an overall good, you enact/enforce it and deal with the loopholes as they appear.

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    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    Here's my two issues with Goodell.

    Does anyone outside the league office want an 18 game schedule? It's all about money, but I think it could easily backfire. Because too much of a good thing lessens demand. Think games are getting blacked out now, just wait and see what an 18 game schedule will do for that. Plus if the league has to add roster spots, change IR rules, to compensate for two extra games much of what was gained financially will be lost right there.

    Playing games outside the continental U.S. And any and all thought to expanding outside our borders. Outside of the Bills playing a game or two in Toronto it makes absolutely no sense playing meaningfull NFL games on foreign soil. Again outside of Goodell and his butt munch inner cirlce who thinks this is a good idea?

    Oh yeah I also think he's completely arbitrary in the way he doles out punishment to the players.
    "A man's got to know his limitations."

  13. #13

    Re: The Problem with Goodell (by LLT - October 31, 2010)

    For everyone watching this BS penalty-fest game. I totally called this type of crap in this editorial!!!! Word for word...here is what I said would happen.

    Be prepared for the result of the pressure that is going to be laid at the feet of the NFL refs. There is no way that Goodell will allow the brunt of this ruling to continue to be piled at his door. You can bet that he has already spoken to the head of officiating and mandated that they start enforcing his ruling. From the viewpoint of the fan this is going to mean we will have to endure refs (who are only human) to make educated guesses as to what just happened in a bang-bang play. Was it a hit to the shoulder or the head? With the right amount of pressure applied by the commissioner, the refs are going to err on the side of job security. That means a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for every “guess” made by the officials. This is the end result of a commissioner that has no idea of how to differentiate between the inherent violence of the game and a legitimate intent to cause harm.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

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