This isn’t a post about the Lions. This is a post about the NFL. There have been a few incidents involving players and the law over the past few weeks. Bengals WR Chris Henry, Steelers LB James Harrison (charges have been dropped) and the latest being Browns DB Kenny Wright, who was released today following his actions.
The rule “3 Strikes and out” proposed last year is a good rule…however, is 3 strikes just too many? What I don’t understand is these players make more money in one year than many of us in our lifetimes. Yet, they continuously find ways to get themselves in trouble, by breaking the law. I don’t know about you, but if I were rich, the last place I would want to be is behind bars, and not being able to use and spend any of that incredibly large sum of money.
Perhaps it should be “1 Strike and out”? Or there needs to be more accountability programs. I don’t know what it’s like on teams, I’m not a football player. Players should not only be held accountable for their actions on the field to the coaches, but to each other as a football. This is true in most cases. But accountability should go beyond two or more players on the field, but off the field as well. The only problem faced in this solution, is we can’t expect players on teams to become friends if they don’t want to. Also there’s the fact that players come and go more frequently on every team, every year. So, we can’t expect a player to form a bond with someone else on the team if he was friends with a recently cut, retired or traded.
There are probably programs in the NFL to help eliminate these things, obviously there are programs for rookies and those in the NFL Draft…but perhaps ALL players need to be required to attend these types of programs annually.
Roger Goodell is doing a remarkable job punishing those that go above the law. The teams have also had to cut their own troublemakers. However, the key factor behind my post isn’t trying to find discipline after the incident, that’s already being done. The actual prevention altogether of the incident should be the main goal of the NFL.
Just my two cents. I’ll get off my soapbox now.
