This was a horrible week for the NFL..and not one game was played. The league found itself in the spotlight of the national eye when former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested Tuesday and charged for first degree manslaughter. Hernandez, who was denied bail, is also facing multiple gun charges and could be looking at life in prison. Within hours of being arrested at his home in Massachusetts, the Patriots released the tight end. It was a smart move by an organization that looks to stay away from distractions (though they did sign Tim Tebow).
Hernandez arrest was just one of three this week. Cleveland Browns rookie Ausar Walcott was also arrested and charged with attempted murder in New Jersey and Indianapolis Colts safety Joe Lefeged was arrested on multiple gun charges in Washington. This string of player arrests bring the total to 31 since the end of the 2012 season, an alarming number for a league that prides itself on policing its players. Ironically, all this happened on a week where the NFL held its annual rookie symposium, a traditional event meant to transition first year players into the league and teach them how to stay out of trouble off the field.
We refer to professional athletes as "heroes". I hate when people say that. Just because you have a special athletic ability doesn't make you a hero. But, it does make you a public figure. Being an NFL player makes you a public figure. Right now the NFLhas a public figure problem. Every year around draft time you will hear this term used, "high character" player. A high character player is one that possesses a unique skill set on the field and is a model citizen off the field (no legal troubles, drug or alcohol problems etc).
Since Roger Goodell has been commissioner he has stressed discipline and healthy choices. When players made mistakes he has been firm with punishments and suspensions, no matter how big of a star they might be. Goodell must feel embarrassed after this weeks string of arrests. His league now has a character problem. Think about the business division you work for. If 31 people were to be arrested from February to June you would probably be questioning the company's human resources department and wonder if background checks were being conducted before hiring employees.
It's impossible to police grown men 24/7. Teams and owners invest time and money into players expecting results and hoping they will stay out of trouble. When a situation like Hernandez's occurs you can't help but shake your head. Aaron had just signed a long term contract with the Patriots last offseason worth over 40 million dollars. What went wrong here? Others will look to Hernandez's checkered past where he failed a drug test while attending college in Florida. Perhaps this should have been a red flag to the Patriots. A picture at age 19 of him holding a handgun in front of a bathroom mirror doesn't help his case either. There are too many cases of immaturity and legal mistakes amongst NFL players. I'm not sure why this keeps happening. Does money dilute your mind that badly that you feel you can do anything and get away with it? I didn't know we were playing the game of life with Monopoly money.
NFL spokes person Greg Aiello said this week "{the league} have policies and programs that hold all NFL employees accountable and provide them with programs of education and support." Obviously the message is being missed. Perhaps suspensions need to be more severe. Maybe the education needs to be updated. 31 arrests in five months doesn't demonstrate accountability to me. Goodell and his team should be ashamed, as I am, a fan of this league for over 15 years and someone who roots for this "public figures". Something better change quick and its up to the league office to figure it out. I look forward to what they come up with.
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