By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
Roger Goodell has already decided what he would like his legacy to be.
While Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue will be forever revered as economic geniuses there was a dark side to their respective watches -- the NFL turned into a clearinghouse for felons and miscreants under both men and Goodell seems like he wants to change that.
Conventional wisdom says the NFL is struggling with an image problem. And if struggling means cruising along with impunity I guess they are. The sad truth is most fans don't care if their stars are failures as human beings as long as they deliver the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But that doesn't mean the leader of the NFL can't grab the moral high ground despite the mindless drones that follow his game.
So far, Goodell has been far more aggressive in terms of disciplining players than Tagliabue ever was. Pacman Jones has already been suspended for the entire 2007 season and the Cincinnati Bengals' favorite felon, Chris Henry, has been shelved for half the season.
But, those are no-brainers. The true test of Goodell's mettle is yet to come. How he handles Michael Vick will let us all know whether the commish is serious about cleaning up his league or whether it's all a public relations ploy designed to keep critics like me at bay.
To be blunt. Vick is a contemptible, detestable dirtbag who doesn't deserve the honor of playing in the NFL. When he's not flipping off fans or carrying hippie-lettuce through the nation's airports, he is killing dogs or spreading herpes like the virus he is.
He also happens to be a superstar and the face of one of the league's franchises, a fact that should be enough to embarrass Goodell, Arthur Blank and the NFLPA into action.
An Atlanta Falcons team that went 0-16 sans Vick would garner more respect in the real world than a 9-7 first round playoff loser that tries to pretend the guy is anything less than a lout.
And he's not the only one. Take a look at what Clinton Portis had to say while defending Vick...
"I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Portis told WAVY-TV. "If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."
Portis later added that he knows "a lot of back roads that got the dog fight if you want to go see it" and that "if it's behind closed doors, it's okay."
Goodell's path is clear. Whether he takes it will define his legacy.
People like Vick and Portis don't deserve to play in his league. Let's hope Goodell has the courage to take on all the sycophants who say they do.
The Phanatic Magazine
Roger Goodell has already decided what he would like his legacy to be.
While Pete Rozelle and Paul Tagliabue will be forever revered as economic geniuses there was a dark side to their respective watches -- the NFL turned into a clearinghouse for felons and miscreants under both men and Goodell seems like he wants to change that.
Conventional wisdom says the NFL is struggling with an image problem. And if struggling means cruising along with impunity I guess they are. The sad truth is most fans don't care if their stars are failures as human beings as long as they deliver the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But that doesn't mean the leader of the NFL can't grab the moral high ground despite the mindless drones that follow his game.
So far, Goodell has been far more aggressive in terms of disciplining players than Tagliabue ever was. Pacman Jones has already been suspended for the entire 2007 season and the Cincinnati Bengals' favorite felon, Chris Henry, has been shelved for half the season.
But, those are no-brainers. The true test of Goodell's mettle is yet to come. How he handles Michael Vick will let us all know whether the commish is serious about cleaning up his league or whether it's all a public relations ploy designed to keep critics like me at bay.
To be blunt. Vick is a contemptible, detestable dirtbag who doesn't deserve the honor of playing in the NFL. When he's not flipping off fans or carrying hippie-lettuce through the nation's airports, he is killing dogs or spreading herpes like the virus he is.
He also happens to be a superstar and the face of one of the league's franchises, a fact that should be enough to embarrass Goodell, Arthur Blank and the NFLPA into action.
An Atlanta Falcons team that went 0-16 sans Vick would garner more respect in the real world than a 9-7 first round playoff loser that tries to pretend the guy is anything less than a lout.
And he's not the only one. Take a look at what Clinton Portis had to say while defending Vick...
"I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Portis told WAVY-TV. "If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."
Portis later added that he knows "a lot of back roads that got the dog fight if you want to go see it" and that "if it's behind closed doors, it's okay."
Goodell's path is clear. Whether he takes it will define his legacy.
People like Vick and Portis don't deserve to play in his league. Let's hope Goodell has the courage to take on all the sycophants who say they do.
Contact John at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com.
4 comments:
"To be blunt. Vick is a contemptible, detestable dirtbag who doesn't deserve the honor of playing in the NFL. When he's not flipping off fans or carrying hippie-lettuce through the nation's airports, he is killing dogs or spreading herpes like the virus he is."
Very hateful comment from someone who only sees Vick through the media's eyes. I disagree with everything said in this garbage article.
Clinton Portis.....tsk tsk tsk...I would have to say clinton protis will defnitely be one of the ppl who receive a darwin award. Please weed yourself out of our gene pool.
what happened with portis....no PR staff could prevent that because no functioning human being could be so stupid to unnecessarily voice their opinion like that... man.....i just dont get how dumb a person can be.......argghhhh.....
I agree with all but one insinuation. Just because he likes the "hippy lettuce" as you put it, does not add to him being a contemptible, detestable dirtbag. I can't stand all the people out there saying that someone who uses drugs is just as bad as participating in dogfighting. Just because ganja is illegal but alcohol is not, do you people think that you are better than someone who chooses ganja? If you answer yes, you are a complete moron. I think what Portis was trying to say is that it is in the privacy of his own home, so you shouldn't tell him what he can or cannot do. I agree with that to the fullest extent. Except when it comes to harming another human being or animal. There is no excuse for that. He should be punished.
"To be blunt. Vick is a contemptible, detestable dirtbag who doesn't deserve the honor of playing in the NFL. When he's not flipping off fans or carrying hippie-lettuce through the nation's airports, he is killing dogs or spreading herpes like the virus he is."
"Very hateful comment from someone who only sees Vick through the media's eyes. I disagree with everything said in this garbage article. "
Hey Anonymous,
If you think someone who enjoys dogfighting is not a scumbag do yourself a favor, get in a dogfighting ring and let a couple of pit bulls rip your throat out. You are just as disgusting as your hero Vick. Great article, although I have to agree with the guy about the marijuana thing, it's not nearly as destrucitve as alcohol.
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