Light backs harsher penalties on conduct

Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to announce a revision to the NFL's personal conduct policy tomorrow at the owners meetings, with harsher penalties for players. Seventh-year Patriots left tackle Matt Light believes the change is necessary.

Light, who attended the NFL Players Association's annual meeting last week in Maui, said personal conduct is the No. 1 item on union president Gene Upshaw's agenda.

"I think it's like anything else, when you have a group of individuals in which the majority are all doing the right thing but yet you fall in that negative light because of what a few others have done, and done it repetitively, it's unfortunate," said Light, who could replace the retired Don Davis as a Patriots player representative alongside linebacker Mike Vrabel.

"I think everybody knows there are times when anybody can slip a little bit and you can make a mistake and it's something you totally regret. But you don't ever make that same mistake twice. Not something that serious," said Light.

"I think what you're seeing lately, we have some guys around the league who have not just gotten in trouble once or twice, but multiple times, for things that shouldn't be a problem at this level. That has shed a negative light on everyone. I think all the guys that are doing the right thing, which is the majority, are all saying, 'Enough is enough.'

"If these guys are going to make mistakes and continue to make them -- and bring down everything we worked hard to build up -- we need to have some stiffer guidelines in place to regulate these guys and keep them from doing what they're doing."

Light's feelings were echoed by a few teammates at yesterday's New England Youth Sports Festival at Gillette Stadium.

"I think there is definitely something to be said for the league wanting to step up and make sure people aren't going out and getting arrested and doing these kind of things," said backup quarterback Matt Cassel. "As NFL players, I feel everyone should be responsible for their actions. We're young gentlemen, we like to have a good time like everybody else, but we have to manage ourselves in such a way that people are able to look up to us and we're able to be role models."

Added long snapper Lonie Paxton: "It's something that has to be done, and everyone is held accountable for their actions."

The personal conduct issue is expected to highlight the agenda at the owners meetings, along with a handful of rule change proposals.

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