Goodell Can't Be Blamed For NFL Players Off Field Transgressions

Roger Goodell - The Chief Crusader

Let me first start by saying that I am not a Roger Goodell supporter.  If anything, I am a member of the group that thinks Roger Goodell is doing more harm than good to the National Football League.  Some of the disciplinary decisions that he has made, the incessant desire to extend a regular season that doesn't need to be extended any further, and the pressure to make rule changes that are sometimes becoming a detriment to the game instead of an improvement.  As I said, I am not a member of the Roger Goodell fan club.  Throughout the recent turmoil that Aaron Hernandez is facing, the "I Hate Roger Goodell" Fan Club is saying that the commissioner is responsible for this situation.  That he somehow should be held responsible for an NFL player having off the field issues.  I can't disagree more with those people who blame Goodell for this. 

Let me go a step further and say that, in my humble opinion, Roger Goodell can't be blamed for any off the field issues in the NFL.  I realize that when hired Roger Goodell stated that he was going to "clean up the game" and went on a spree of suspensions and stricter rules and penalties that he was essentially setting himself up for failure, but Goodell is only one man.  He HAD to say he was going to try and clean up the game.  What would people say if he said in that initial press conference "I honestly don't care about anything off the field with these players.  All I care about is the NFL and on the field issues...everything else is a moot point with me."  He would have been crucified by the media saying that he isn't taking a hard stance as the leader of a league that is known for off the field issues.  Goodell said what he had to say, and with saying that, placed himself on the front lines of a crusade that cannot be won.  Let me elaborate.

I am a school teacher and I will use the analogy of a new principal coming into the school.  When the principal takes over, they can make changes, talk to their teachers, and put new rules and policies into place, but one thing remains the same...they cannot be everywhere and hold every single student's hand making them make good choices.  No, the principal makes the rules, enforces them, and unfortunately always has to discipline students that don't follow those rules.  You can't blame a principal for having to discipline a child, and you certainly can't blame a principal for a child making a mistake...even a huge mistake.

Just like the Principal can't be blamed for a student making a mistake, neither can Roger Goodell.  I am not talking about just the Aaron Hernandez situation, but any NFL players that run into off the field issues.  Pac Man Jones, Ben Roethlisberger, Chad Ochocinco/Johnson, etc.  Roger Goodell might have to discipline those players for making mistakes off the field, but he can't be blamed for having to discipline them, and he certainly can't be blamed for the players making mistakes.  Unlike my principal analogy where students make mistakes, these players are adults and need to act it.  Could Roger Goodell be criticized for suspending Ben Roethlisberger for 6 games (then reduced to 4) when he wasn't convicted of anything, but suspend a player that uses a banned substance 4 games when he was cheating at the very sport Goodell polices?  Sure he can, but he can't be blamed for players making mistakes off of the field.  Just like the principal can't hold the students hands, nor can Goodell to grown men who should know better.