Peterson gets suspended for beating his kid while Ray Rice got reinstated.
Apparently, the league draws the line at beating your kids. Beating your partner is completely ok, so long as she gets her money. And let's not kid ourselves. If Ray Rice weren't a football player who's earning potential was in the millions, his wife would be out of there.... Or some goodie two shoes women's rights people would be in her ear to "not go back to that unhealthy relationship"
For God's sake, many of us have stressful jobs. The so-called violence in football is, at least, an outlet. Since when do we excuse people for bad behavior that harms someone else?
I was asked recently for my opinion on how coach Belichick should be punished if he was found to have intentionally deflating footballs. Because, ya know, he's a proven cheater. I deflected, for a good reason. I have major problems with the NFL right now. It's not been a league based solely on competition for quite some time. Belichick is an arrogant asshole. Yes. And, he's my arrogant asshole because I live in New England . So, there's little point in asking me for my opinion because I'm biased.
But the bigger issue is all the rules put in place for "player safety". It's horseshit. The rules in place are meant to make it easier for the offenses to score. And where did some of those rules come from? Bill Polian: former President of the Colts, all to make it easier for Manning and other QBs. It's all about ratings.
Calling Belichick a cheater is like calling a habitual speeder a criminal. Everyone speeds. When you get caught, you pay the fine. But that doesn't take away your presumption of innocence when accused of theft.
Belichick has been caught cheating in ways that most, if not all, other coaches have also cheated. The NFL looks the other way to unless someone blows a whistle.
Does that make it ok? Maybe not. But, if everyone around you is cheating and getting away with it, at what point are your principles more important than the players that you coach?
The real reason that Belichick acts with such disdain for NFL leadership is that it is weak, and inconsistent, not to mention ineffective.
So, if Belichick is found "guilty" of masterminding a way to deflate balls after they were inspected? Then fine him and get the fuck on with it.
Period.
You want integrity? Don't look to NFL leadership.
Part of it is ownership...not just coaching....there is only one team in the league that is actually owned by the fans.
ReplyDeleteTruth. I wish the Packers hadn't collapsed in the 4th quarter.
DeleteThe decision to kick two field goals rather than go for the TD in the first quarter was the real mistake. The whole second half was a bit of a clusterfuck.
DeleteI disagree, perhaps because the glass.... my glass.... is always half full. Of course as it is with every business there's a profit motive but I believe the NFL is doing its best to maintain integrity while keeping motivation and interest at an all-time high. Recent issues, such as concussions and their long-range effect on the brain and brain health .... the well being of players that retired before the very lucrative retirement plan went into effect ..... and domestic violence problems have all been met head-on and addressed. By its own admission the NFL has had little experience with these issues (rightly or wrongly) and, because it's dead square in the eye of the thrill-seeking media seemingly has not moved and acted quickly. The issue with the Pats and their iconic coach and quarterback is, simply, on hold. Unfortunately it has taken up the time and story space of the media. It may not be a story as it turns out. Who knows? The story is magnified because Belichek has cheated before to gain advantage..... not just used every advantage he had, but cheated. To say others have done the same in a similar way is unfounded He was punished. You see Fly Boy, he is a man with a so-called record so he is scrutinized and the media is waiting for Belichek to drop the ball (the perfect idiom). I see it different than something insignificant and, "well, others do it." He should be penalized, the team be penalized and if there's connectivity between the purposeful rule break and the coach and star QB, suspended for several games if not the full season for Belichek. The New Orleans coach had to sit out the year for less.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Yeah. He "cheated". He was fined for filming sideline activity. Activity that everyone else in the stadium could see. It was against the rules. So he paid the fine. And error in judgement? Perhaps. But, if that kind of behavior doesn't continue today, why do all the coaches continue to cover their mouths when they discuss strategy on the sidelines?
DeleteDomestic abuse is a new issue? Not so. Read up on it. The NFL has been hiding and/or not dealing with these issues for 2 decades. Google it. It's not hard.
As for head injuries, the NFL had evidence about them also 20 years back. The retired veterans had to settle out of court after filing a lawsuit.
Let's not talk about how most owners bilk their communities for tax dollars for stadiums where the economics only make sense for the owners, not the sucker community.
At least to that end, the Krafts privately funded Gillette stadium. Massachusetts spent a fraction of what other states have spend, ou on access roads. Nothing else.
KT, even I am surprised by your naïveté.
He knowingly and willingly broke firm laws in place and did so his team could have an unfair advantage. His videographer explicitly reminded Belichek that secretly taping the hand signals between the sideline coaches and the defensive players on the field is against league rules. Belichek is a man who knows the minute details. That's why the media and fans are concerned about the issue, whether the coach and qb have anything to do with it. To insinuate that other coaches would also break existing rules, to overtly cheat to gain an advantage, is not backed up by fact. The issues of concussion (I saw the ESPN special on it) and domestic violence are portrayed wrongly by you. The NFL has made it a priority, given it public and private emphasis and has quietly invested 10's of millions in the issues. What the medical community knows today and is accepted practice is vastly different than 20 years ago. The equipment, player education and league rules are all about player safety. You're right, the issue wasn't as important when I was nine years old but to say the NFL knowingly covered this up and did not go with general accepted information means there was an overt and carefully planned coverup. The league has met the issue of domestic violence head-on this year. Both running backs were suspended for the rest of the year soon after the incidents and the related evidence was carefully reviewed. What the fuck do you want? Burned at the stake? Banned for life? If the police were called to your home because of a spat with your wife and a single instance would you be fired from your job? Saying and believing his wife sticks with him because he's an NFL player with a fat paycheck and in the news is the thinking of the uneducated mob. Would there be, fairly and justly, counseling or is that something you personally don't believe in? Or is there an underlying issue that the players singled out are wealthy and..... not like you and me?
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/31/sports/super-bowl-xxvii-violence-translates-at-home.html
DeleteThe NFL acknowledged 20 years ago that domestic violence was an issue that was magnified during fort all season. They chose to act as a leader in the community with a PSA during the SB. Good for them right?
DeleteUnder ordinary circumstances, Ray Rice would have been arrested, not for domestic violence, but for flat out assault. The guards in the casino covered for him BECAUSE he's in the NFL. Don't compare his job to any job that the est of us have.
If we get to treat a million dollar athlete as the same as everyone else, then we should start excusing all the other rich fucks that believe they are above the law. It's a slippery slope when you let people excuse themselves.
We are way off point here.
The point here is that the whole integrity conversation is a sham. If the NFL really believes that BB is a cheater, then why would he be part of the rules committee?
The inconsistencies are there for all to see. If you're too blind to see, I cannot help you.
Not sure why this didn't show up when I posted it, but with regards to the NY Times piece,
DeleteWoah! Wait a minute. If someone batters their wife or children it is because they are a useless bastard, not because they watch football. There is far too much psychoanalysis going on here. Everyone seems to want to blame asshole-ish behavior on some external factor. Right and wrong doesn't change because you watch a football game. Personal responsibility. Personal responsibility. Personal responsibility.
And that's precisely my point.
DeleteHmmm, we're debating an issue of which we have different opinions and you've called me in successive strident comments naive and blind because I don't see it your way. Perhaps if we were together and not 1200 miles apart your anger would boil over and you'd punch me in the face because I disagree with you. I'm making a point here. In the case of Ray Rice it was a horrible display of anger and he was severely punished by his employer. It is not a pattern of violence, he is remorseful, sought and received help and it is not repeated behavior. No one is making excuses. No one is blaming outside forces. And if someone doesn't see it as a sham and fails to agree with you and the screaming newspaper headlines designed to incite people like you that doesn't mean they're blind. BTW, what exactly would you and GT like to happen to Rice? He's been punished. What else?
DeleteIf someone disagrees with my assessment that water is wet, I don't get angry. I just shake my head and move on.
DeleteSo, KT, tell me a story to keep me warm.
I think KT might need a spanking.
DeleteI've got paddles and a bottle of olive oil...
DeleteAnd, GT/Cheesehead, me luvvvvvvs Mr. Rodgers. I think the "Discount Double Check" All State (is that right?) adverts are hysterical. As awesomely funny the "Pump YOU up" ads have been, the quarterback squished between two Chicago Beard passenger/fans on the flight serving sizzling, smoke in his face, Brats is stoking hysterical.
ReplyDeleteRodgers!!!! Rodgers!!!
Delete