3 strikes and your out

[JackPMiller]

I heard the NFL has been talking about this, mainly because of the Pacman Jones, and other concerns. I was wondering how all of you feel about the rule? If the player gets the 3 strikes, should that person lose all of his signing bonus? I believe that should be part of that agreement, but that is not being looked at as of now by the NFL. I like to know your opinions on all of this.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

If someone is STUPID enough to commit a felony 3 times then they deserved to be permanently kicked out of the NFL. No money no job.

This is getting to a point where football looks worst than basketball and thats a hard thing to do.

Guys like PacMan Jones and Chris Henry should be out of the league and not let back in.

I would feel the same for any player.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

If someone is STUPID enough to commit a felony 3 times then they deserved to be permanently kicked out of the NFL. No money no job.

This is getting to a point where football looks worst than basketball and thats a hard thing to do.

Guys like PacMan Jones and Chris Henry should be out of the league and not let back in.

I would feel the same for any player.

My sentiments exactly. PacMan Jones should be an NBA guard for the JailBlazers. If he needs to stay in the NFL....trade him to the Bengals where he won't be a major distraction but will just be "one of the guys". I love that the players are the ones who brought it up.

 

[jeffd]

I heard the NFL has been talking about this, mainly because of the Pacman Jones, and other concerns. I was wondering how all of you feel about the rule? If the player gets the 3 strikes, should that person lose all of his signing bonus? I believe that should be part of that agreement, but that is not being looked at as of now by the NFL. I like to know your opinions on all of this.

I love it. Mostly because it was the players that asked for it. I'm glad the good guys have stepped up to try and police themselves before it gets out of hand. Lets just hope the union doesn't get in the way of something good happening.
Don't overlook the fact that the "thug" image of its players is a major reason for all the problems the NBA is having. The NFL is really on top right now and this type of behavior can knock them down quick.

 

[Jimke]

Pacman Jones is a disgrace to the sport of football and should

obviously be kicked out for the good of the game.

 

[ironwasp]

The NFL is all over the place on off-the-field issues and behaviour and appears to be taking the ostrick approach to all these things.

I think a 3-strikes-and-out policy is a good place to start the debate but I'm not sure I'm in favour of anything quite so prescriptive that fails to take into account circumstances, degree of severity etc etc.

But even if it doesn't take a 3 strikes approach, the NFl now needs to start cracking down hard and fast on with major sanctions against offenders. The fact that the players union is advocating this change means the league should ahve the coverage to pick up the ball.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

The issue then becomes, how do you define a strike? Will it require a conviction or a nolo contendere plea? What if they are acquitted? I'm not defending the turds but I wonder how broadly or narrowly the rule has to be written to avoid being completely useless and a sham.
What standard do you use, a criminal one (beyond a reasonable doubt)
or the civil one (by a preponderance of the evidence- anything more than 50%) and what due process protections will the player have? That cha-ching you just heard is the attorneys' billable hours ringing.
What if a player is involved in a criminal situation but cuts a deal in exchange for immunity and testifying against his co-conspirators. He wouldn't have been convicted of any crime and then do you consider it a strike? If so, who makes the decision, the commisioner? Will the NFLPA and Upshaw give Roger Goodell that much power? The NFLPA may be responding to the players who want it but when push comes to shove, I believe they will close ranks and oppose it. When has any union ever voluntarily given management the right to discipline its members without some givebacks or concessions?
Just some food for thought......

 

[BelichickFan]

It's a good thing. I want to be able to root for my team's players and enjoy the sport, not watch a bunch of thugs running around.

 

[DarrylS]

Will 3 dui's be the same as what Pac Man allegedly did? Think it is a great idea, but how will it be defined. What Pac Man did last week should fall into a 1 strike rule, no more chances, do not pass go.. automatic trade to the league of irrelevance and trivia.

 

[iguide]

The issue then becomes, how do you define a strike? Will it require a conviction or a nolo contendere plea? What if they are acquitted? I'm not defending the turds but I wonder how broadly or narrowly the rule has to be written to avoid being completely useless and a sham.
What standard do you use, a criminal one (beyond a reasonable doubt)
or the civil one (by a preponderance of the evidence- anything more than 50%) and what due process protections will the player have? That cha-ching you just heard is the attorneys' billable hours ringing.
What if a player is involved in a criminal situation but cuts a deal in exchange for immunity and testifying against his co-conspirators. He wouldn't have been convicted of any crime and then do you consider it a strike? If so, who makes the decision, the commisioner? Will the NFLPA and Upshaw give Roger Goodell that much power? The NFLPA may be responding to the players who want it but when push comes to shove, I believe they will close ranks and oppose it. When has any union ever voluntarily given management the right to discipline its members without some givebacks or concessions?
Just some food for thought......

Good Questions and I try to address some of them.

As far as the black and white part of it. Start with 3 mister meaner charges/civil disobedience they are out. One felony of any kind and it is one and done in addition to returning all bonus money. Now for the part about the cutting a deal. If a player is charged with a felony and has to cut a deal so it is not a felony make that one and done also, returning 50% of bonus money. The bottom line is that the vast majority of everyday people do not get the " privileged treatment" that celbs./players get and it should be equal for all. I have maintained from the start toss Packman out of the league and Peter King wrote today that he felt that if 33% of what is being said about Packman’s involvement is true toss him out. The same thing should have been done with Ray Lewis back in Atlanta. Just MHO.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Pacman Jones is a disgrace to the sport of football and should

obviously be kicked out for the good of the game.

I agree , the guy is a thug.. I dont care how great a player he is.. The Titans need to set a example and cut him...

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Good Questions and I try to address some of them.

One felony of any kind and it is one and done in addition to returning all bonus money. Now for the part about the cutting a deal. If a player is charged with a felony and has to cut a deal so it is not a felony make that one and done also, returning 50% of bonus money. .

I don't think it will happen. There is a presumption of innocence and I can't see someone being forced to return 50% of lots of money based on an indictment alone. What if they are innocent? I'm not naive am as anti-criminal as anyone but you need only look at the DNA exonerations to know that it does happen,albeit rarely to some people and far too often fro others.
As for the one felony and out, it doesn't jibe with three strikes. Granted some crimes are so heinous that the jail sentence alone prevents the person from playing in the NFL like Rae Carruth's murder conviction.
As I wrote before, the devil is in the details. If it ever comes to fruition, it will make the CBA look like a cakewalk in trying to hammer it out.
Just my $0.02,