I am convinced Goddell is an idiot

[MoLewisrocks]

Didn't they just change or respecify that rule to say that incidental contact would not be penalized? I could be wrong, but I seem to remember somebody talking about that because last year or the year before a defenders hand brushed a QBs helmet and it was flagged.

Yup, but see my earlier reply for why not to bother pointing out the facts...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I don't think you'll find much disagreement with that sentiment here. I'm sick of the moralizing in general that comes out of the commissioner's office. This isn't ethics-ball, and we know that a lot of the players are questionable, at best, people. We just don't really care.

Speak for yourself. We're not all 20 and 30 somethings who were raised to think whatever floats their boat goes...

 

[Koma]

Didn't they just change or respecify that rule to say that incidental contact would not be penalized? I could be wrong, but I seem to remember somebody talking about that because last year or the year before a defenders hand brushed a QBs helmet and it was flagged.

There may have been another play, but I can remember an incident like this during the Eagles-Colts game last season. On a 4th down play near the end of the game, an Eagle defender brushed the back of Manning's helmet. I forget if the pass was incomplete or intercepted, but the 4th down was not converted and the game would have been over. Except that Philly was flagged for hitting the QB in the head and the Colts drive continued.

I was pleased to see the rule change, but I wonder how consistently it will be enforced this season.

In terms of Goodell, the lack of consistency is what bothers me. Early in his tenure, he put his foot down on players and teams. Now, I can't predict when someone will get disciplined and when they won't.

The "Ah, these things happen" reaction to the Broncos filming another team's practice has already been brought up. And this took place after Goodell created the position of Director of Strategic Security to ensure that these things will be monitored. Letting the Jets investigate themselves after the Alosi affair is another example.

Player wise, we see Kevin Faulk miss a game in 2008 because of a misdemeanor drug possession charge. Lofa Tatupu, Braylon Edwards, and that WR for the Jaguars aren't suspended after DUI charges. Aqib Talib and Kenny Britt avoid being suspended and the reasoning I've read is that their transgressions took place during the lockout. This might make sense if Terrell Pryor and Jim Tressell were NFL employees when they violated NCAA rules.

If I was a team employee or player, I wouldn't be sure what type of punishment, if any, to expect going forward. Maybe that's how Goodell wants it, but I think these inconsistencies are going to undermine him in the long run.

 

[Ring 6]

A couple of things. Even before Goodell, this league has been a reactionary league and implementing rules or emphasizing rules because of one or two stand alone plays in a season or one player blatantly violating a rule. Stupid rules like the Emmitt Smith Rule and Roy Williams Rule predate his tenure as commissioner.

Also, I think these rules are in place because the NFL fears a future lawsuit by players whose lives are ruined by concussions. I think the NFL is going to be sued for past concussions and their apparent ignoring the seriousness of the situation. Now they are going overboard to show that they are taking steps to minimize concussions to reduce their liability.

Lastly, didn't Tressel voluntarily take the six game suspension? That is what I heard on the radio.

How do you voluntarily take a suspension?
The story is that there was an 'outcry' that Pryor got suspended and Tressell could coach for free. The story was that Pryor was suspended for flouting the draft rules. If that were the case, then why would anyone yield to an outcry such as this?
Just because Tressell took it without a word, doesnt make it right, and doesnt make it consistent.
Its the same with the hitting penalties. Once you cross a line, such as calling illegal contact on a hit on a RB trying to drive for extra yards, or throwing a flag for a hard hit when the receiver doesnt catch the ball, it confuses everything.
All preseaon long DBs have hesitated to hit a receiver coming across the middle. Spearing has always been a penalty. By action it appears they want 'hitting to hard' to become one.
The problem is in defining and implementing the rule.

 

[Rob0729]

How do you voluntarily take a suspension?
The story is that there was an 'outcry' that Pryor got suspended and Tressell could coach for free. The story was that Pryor was suspended for flouting the draft rules. If that were the case, then why would anyone yield to an outcry such as this?
Just because Tressell took it without a word, doesnt make it right, and doesnt make it consistent.
Its the same with the hitting penalties. Once you cross a line, such as calling illegal contact on a hit on a RB trying to drive for extra yards, or throwing a flag for a hard hit when the receiver doesnt catch the ball, it confuses everything.
All preseaon long DBs have hesitated to hit a receiver coming across the middle. Spearing has always been a penalty. By action it appears they want 'hitting to hard' to become one.
The problem is in defining and implementing the rule.

First of all, the league wasn't involved in Tressel's suspension at all. It was a team suspension through the Colts, not the legue offices. Goodell had nothing to do with the suspension.

Second of all, according to the Colt's press release, it was Tressel's suggestion that he get a six game suspension.

Over the weekend Coach Tressel, Mr. Irsay (team owner Jim Irsay), Coach (Jim) Caldwell and I had a discussion of the issue. In addition, we had a conversation with league officials to apprise them of the details of Coach Tressel's employment and the issues we were reviewing.

At Coach Tressel's suggestion, and with Mr. Irsay's concurrence and support, we have decided to begin Coach Tressel's employment effective with our seventh regular season game. We have informed the league office of our decision and expect that they will be supportive of it.

Colts put Tressel in timeout with de facto suspension

As for poorly implemented and written rules, those predate Goodell. The Pats benefitted from one such horrible rule on the way to their first Super Bowl. The Tuck Rule is stupid because it turns a clear fumble into a forward pass. The Pats also benefitted from another BS rule in 2003 where David Patten "recovered a fumble" while unconscious because he was touching the ball while he laid unconscious out of bounds. The Brown lost a game because they stopped the Bengals on a 4th and 1 with only seconds left, but one of the defenders took off his helmet on the field causing a 15 yard penalty which allowed the Bengals to win the game with a field goal. All these stupid and poorly implemented rules were implemented by Paul Tagliabue, not Roger Goodell.

 

[condon84]

Goodell was hired by the NFL owners, one of which was Kraft, who I heard was a big Goodell advocate.

The NFL is already being sued by former players regarding their concussions while they played in the league. If the NFL don't protect itself now by enforcing these new rules, then it would just be bad business.

How the NFL wants to suspend and fine players is their own prerogative. They're a private league and they can make up ridiculous rules if they want to. I'd rather them go to the extreme and fine/suspend idiot athletes from college to deter future college athletes from following in their footsteps. If he also wants to make these professionals accountable for acting like idiots while they're in the NFL, then I'm all for it too. God forbid their's enough idiots out there.

Also, the NFLPA fought for the "less hitting during the week" mandate that they are now enforcing.

The game is changing. Athletes are getting bigger, faster, and stronger. These collisions are far more dangerous now, even with all the advancement in gear, than ever. We may not like it, but these guys are tearing themselves up on the field and they have a right to fight to change some of these rules.

It's funny, the most outspoken guys for the rule changes are the retired guys who are now suffering injuries after injuries because of playing football. They're reaping what they sow during their careers. They know firsthand the dangers of playing in the NFL and they're trying to tell the current guys that there needs to be changes.

 

[Triumph]

Pryor deserved his suspension.

It sent a message to NCAA football players that you cant just jump ship to the NFL to escape punishment by the NCAA. Good job by the Commish on that one.

 

[olschool]

I do not know if Goddell is bad for the game or not, but the fact that he is a huge Jets fan is just not right.

He was born and raised in New York, and once worked for the Jets. He's biased.

 

[DarrylS]

How do you voluntarily take a suspension?
The story is that there was an 'outcry' that Pryor got suspended and Tressell could coach for free. The story was that Pryor was suspended for flouting the draft rules. If that were the case, then why would anyone yield to an outcry such as this?
Just because Tressell took it without a word, doesnt make it right, and doesnt make it consistent.
Its the same with the hitting penalties. Once you cross a line, such as calling illegal contact on a hit on a RB trying to drive for extra yards, or throwing a flag for a hard hit when the receiver doesnt catch the ball, it confuses everything.
All preseaon long DBs have hesitated to hit a receiver coming across the middle. Spearing has always been a penalty. By action it appears they want 'hitting to hard' to become one.
The problem is in defining and implementing the rule.

Reggie Bush was not suspended, Pryor was.. Tressel is a tainted coach, and the NFL will not stand in the way.

 

[flasox27]

He was born and raised in New York, and once worked for the Jets. He's biased.

Absolutely correct sir Funny how with all the shenanigans going on with the Jets including the undeniable interference with a player on the field they have never been penalized with loss of draft choice and the POS commissioner accepted the strength coach as the fall guy. Does anybody believe that if the incident involved the Pats, Belichick would have gotten off like Ryan,

 

[Off The Grid]

Implementing rules to protect players from long term health problems doesn't make Goodell an idiot.

These rules ~ while they reduce our enjoyment, as fans ~ are a GODSEND.

It HORRIFIES me to consider how many of our Gladiators have been concussed into Depression, and, thence, actual SUICIDE.

It's HEART Breaking.

So, though it makes me cringe to see the game "softened up"...I have to APPLAUD these initiatives.

***

But that doesn't mean that Goodell isn't SCUM.

Kraft is a good man, a TREMENDOUS man...But that doesn't mean he isn't GULLIBLE.

I don't mean that as an INSULT.

HELL...I'm gullible, MYSELF.

Philosophically, one almost HAS to choose between Gullibility and Cynicism.

And that's an EASY choice, for ME.

***

But ~ that being the case ~ Brother Kraft IS somewhat gullible.

I mean: THIS is the guy who stared, slack-jawed, while Putin the Vile pocketed one of his SUPER BOWL RINGS!!!

Worse, yet: Kraft then tried to butter things over by perpetrating that he INTENDED to give the ring to Putin, which has to be one of the most pathetic LIES on RECORD.

MIND you: Putin didn't GAIN anything from it. Indeed, it was actually ~ PROBABLY ~ just a misunderstanding, as Europeans ~ as Russians consider themselves to be ~ are always exchanging expensive gifts in political circles, and Putin The Vile immediately donated the ring to the Kremlin Library.

But Brother Kraft's ensuing SUPER SPIN about his alleged DONATION has GOT to make the Top Ten of All Time OBFUSCATIONS.

Just SAYIN.

***

Goodell is SCUM.

SpyGate was 1% Substance and 99% DOG FECES. It's no SECRET.

Coach Bill PUSHED it, YES...

But this was no SPY, hiding in the STANDS...

This was a guy FULLY decked out in Patriots REGALIA.

It was a #$%&ing Misdemeanor...and SCUMBAG went CHAIR on us.

And he did so for ONE REASON.

He's a JETS fan.

Nobody with ANY integrity ~ Pats fan, Jets fan, or otherwise ~ would see it differently.

Other'n that, I have no strong feelings on the subject...

***

*Editor's Note: I DO read these before I send them...and this is one of my SILLIEST posts ~ when I'm tired, I just CAP everything, rather'n go to the trouble of italicizing ~ but I LIKE it, so OFF it goes...

 

[Off The Grid]

He went off unprepared in his attempt to make hitting on the football field a bad thing. Now a finger to a QBs helmet is a penalty and a fine, and DBs are afraid to touch a WR.
His Holier than Thou approach to hold a league of mostly 20 to 30 year olds to his own moral judgment in their personal life has been an abject failure, as he makes snap decisions creates precedent then cannot match future offenses to the precedent he set.
Lately he decides to suspend a player based on his being suspended in college. When it is found out that this creates a terrible precedent he lies about the reason.
Now Jim Tressell VOLUNTEERS to work for free in the Colts booth, and since he suspended Pryor someone complains about it, and now Tressell is suspended.
How is Pryor not suspended for his college suspension, but for "Fing with the draft" yet Tressell is suspended (from a non paying job) for his college suspension?
Goddell is painting himself into a corner with his decisions that he refuses to think through.
Oh yeah, and apparently he is responsible for the NFL being a league that can't hit once a week every week to be prepared for games.

"Enter" Keys are nice.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

First of all, the league wasn't involved in Tressel's suspension at all. It was a team suspension through the Colts, not the legue offices. Goodell had nothing to do with the suspension.

Second of all, according to the Colt's press release, it was Tressel's suggestion that he get a six game suspension.



Colts put Tressel in timeout with de facto suspension

As for poorly implemented and written rules, those predate Goodell. The Pats benefitted from one such horrible rule on the way to their first Super Bowl. The Tuck Rule is stupid because it turns a clear fumble into a forward pass. The Pats also benefitted from another BS rule in 2003 where David Patten "recovered a fumble" while unconscious because he was touching the ball while he laid unconscious out of bounds. The Brown lost a game because they stopped the Bengals on a 4th and 1 with only seconds left, but one of the defenders took off his helmet on the field causing a 15 yard penalty which allowed the Bengals to win the game with a field goal. All these stupid and poorly implemented rules were implemented by Paul Tagliabue, not Roger Goodell.

Good points, however on Mike & Mike this AM Goodell was interviewed and said that HE would have acted had Tressel not 'voluntarily' been suspended.

 

[BAM!]

Reggie Bush was not suspended, Pryor was.. Tressel is a tainted coach, and the NFL will not stand in the way.

Reggie Bush was selected in the 2006 draft prior to Goodell becoming commissioner later that year.

Terrelle Pryor was going to be suspended for 5 games, Reggie Bush was never suspended and no NCAA actions were taken against Bush/USC until June of 2010.

The difference here is that Pryor was running from his college punishment by declaring for the supplemental draft. Bush never had to serve a college punishment (unless you want to consider his Heisman Trophy being taken away and all jeresy's and memorabilia honoring him at the school being removed). The Bush/Pryor thing is a bad comparison and are nothing alike.

I commend Goodell for implementing things like this to discourage players/coaches to go to the NFL because they are being punished by the NCAA.

Now other issues concerning Goodell, I do have a problem with but this one I think is one of the better ones we have seen in a while.

 

[Gwedd]

Good points, however on Mike & Mike this AM Goodell was interviewed and said that HE would have acted had Tressel not 'voluntarily' been suspended.

There ya go. Actions always speak louder than words.

Leadership by example. In this case, it's a VERY mixed bag of examples.

 

[Wolfpack]

He went off unprepared in his attempt to make hitting on the football field a bad thing. Now a finger to a QBs helmet is a penalty and a fine, and DBs are afraid to touch a WR.

Goodell has to protect the league from potential liability by doing everything possible (or at least appearing to do everything possible) to reduce the chances of injuries, especially concussions. If he sat there and didn't do anything, he would open the league up to countless millions and millions of future liability.

 

[jBru]

I think that Goddell has done a fantastic job.

1. His handling of the CBA alone puts him far ahead of his predecessor.

2. His prioritization of player safety is a very savvy move. The evidence is steadily mounting that playing professional football results in long term, irreversible (and not rarely fatal) damage to the men who play the game.

This is a SERIOUS threat to the future of the game: both from a PR perspective, and a legal perspective.

By getting out ahead of the problem (supporting greater player safety at nearly every opportunity) he helps contain it.

3. I personally find his moralizing annoying, but he has approached it with an admirable single mindedness. He is trying to maximize NFL revenues, and that means punishing any action which "tarnishes the shield". To that end, his policies have been successful. (Not only by punishing misdeeds, but by paving the way for the redemption of some of the game's biggest stars (Vick, Rothlisberger)).



All of the hate directed at Goddell looks like second rate second guessing to me.

Some individuals approach life by asking "How can I stay out of trouble?"

This is the approach that got us into the recent CBA mess, and ignored the issue of player concussions until it was almost too late.

Other people ask "How can I make things better?"

This is the type of person that Goddell is. He knows that he will be second guessed every time he makes a decision. But that seldom keeps him from acting in the manner that he determines will best advance the interests of the game as he defines it.

I admire that. 20 years from now, the game will be in much better shape, thanks to him.

 

[Joker]

All of the hate directed at Goddell looks like second rate second guessing to me......There's a sticky at the top of this page. I have HARD COPY evidence of Goodell's demonstrated behaviour since he was in high school

Some individuals approach life by asking "How can I stay out of trouble?"....others approach it by having one's Senator daddy squash incidents of rowdyism and violence directed at innocent fans from the paid for box during Jet games, while that person is a high school three sport star.

This is the approach that got us into the recent CBA mess, and ignored the issue of player concussions until it was almost too late.........Preposterous...Goodell had YEARS as Omissioner to address this burgeoning problem...nice spin and twist though

Other people ask "How can I make things better?".....Jetdell thinks, how can I make more money and profits for my NY business partners and increase the chances that we get the ultimate motherlode of all Super Bowls...a Jets/Giants matchup in NY...

This is the type of person that Goddell is. He knows that he will be second guessed every time he makes a decision. But that seldom keeps him from acting in the manner that he determines will best advance the interests of the game as he defines it.yes sir...bullseye buddy!!! unintentional of course, but you NAILED it..."as he defines it"...exactly....disagreement over a memo sent out to all teams.."I fine YOU MILLIONS and you will FORFEIT a team building block first round pick!!"...and "as he defines it"....drunken head coach throwing the finger in front of little girls, engaging in lewd deviant sexual practices,dead beat father, drunk driver, tripper, drunken outright liar(Westhoff)..."heh heh OK...that's enough boys...you will pay ONE THOUSANDTH in actual damage that the Patriots payed...OK...All is well!! All is well!!"

I admire that. 20 years from now, the game will be in much better shape, thanks to him...... the GAME will be MUCH better with HIM removed and a truly impartial executive with real intelligence and a strong background in business brought in to take this game we love well into the 21st century. A person with integrity and enough character to KNOW that when even a sniff of a conflict of interest when making decisions vis a vis each team in the league is W-R-O-N-G, and a person with the guts and character to call in an independent arbitrator when faced with a situation like this.

 

[captain stone]

Goodell has to protect the league from potential liability by doing everything possible (or at least appearing to do everything possible) to reduce the chances of injuries, especially concussions. If he sat there and didn't do anything, he would open the league up to countless millions and millions of future liability.

Then where are the penalties against stiff-arming to the helmet?

Where are the penalties against a RB charging, helmet-first, into the LOS?

Why aren't there more penalties called against chop-blocking & blocking at/below the knees?

Where was the damn penalty against Pollard v. Brady?

Blatant hits v. incidental contact to the head is like judging porn: we know it when we see it.
Unfortunately, the Omissioner & his marketing to the pink hat toadies fail to see it,
because they either lack the common sense to know the difference, or they simply ignore it
and place ratings over reason. Offense sells, after all, and protecting glamour-boy QBs
& diva WRs - logic be damned - sells even more.

And his obvious bias in favor of his beloved J-E-S-T and against the NEP is a disgrace.

 

[jBru]

Some individuals approach life by asking "How can I stay out of trouble?"....others approach it by having one's Senator daddy squash incidents of rowdyism and violence directed at innocent fans from the paid for box during Jet games, while that person is a high school three sport star.

Seriously? Goddell is a bad commissioner, because his father intervened on his behalf when he was in high school?

This is the approach that got us into the recent CBA mess, and ignored the issue of player concussions until it was almost too late.........Preposterous...Goodell had YEARS as Omissioner to address this burgeoning problem...nice spin and twist though

Huh? The CBA was done before Goddell. There is nothing he could have done after becoming commissioner... other than sign another bad deal. A ten year deal which is fair to all parties was the very best possible outcome, and Roger nailed it. What would you have done differently?

Other people ask "How can I make things better?".....Jetdell thinks, how can I make more money and profits for my NY business partners and increase the chances that we get the ultimate motherlode of all Super Bowls...a Jets/Giants matchup in NY...

Utter nonsense without a shred of support.

This is the type of person that Goddell is. He knows that he will be second guessed every time he makes a decision. But that seldom keeps him from acting in the manner that he determines will best advance the interests of the game as he defines it.yes sir...bullseye buddy!!! unintentional of course, but you NAILED it..."as he defines it"

There is nothing unintentional there. I disagree with Goddell's decisions all the time. But I respect him for acting in the best interests of the game as he understands it, instead of being cowed into inaction by the legions of haters. Your reams of paranoid innuendo make my point.

I certainly disagreed with Roger's decision on Spygate. But Roger didn't create the situation in the public press. That mess was a result of the Patriots and Mangini. And his ultimate decision was entirely consistent with his overriding disciplinary theme: whatever makes the NFL look bad has to go.

If the national press had adopted an attitude of "it was just a misunderstanding over a memo", I am sure the outcome would have been different. Unfortunately, just about the only people who saw it this way were Patriots fans.