Power is a mighty thing to have. When someone has power, they are afforded the opportunity to make a lot of things happen – or even to prevent a lot of things from happening.
Indeed, power can be something of epic proportions; which is all the more reason that people with specific power or decision-making abilities be monitored by some sort of governing body. Doing so keeps the abuse of power from occurring. It also ensures fair treatment of those who are powerless.
Some believe National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell recently went on a power trip of sorts when he suspended four NFL players who are suspected of receiving cash bonuses for hits that injured opponents.
Opponents of Goodell’s actions argued that the commissioner wrongfully suspended the four men based off speculation and hearsay. As a result, a three-member appeals panel reinstated the players until further notice.
I think football is one of the most violent sports around and for the life of me, I don’t understand America’s fascination with it. With that said, intentionally hurting another player for a play-for-pain bonus is even more disconcerting and I certainly don’t support such practices.
However, right is right and wrong is wrong. As far as Goodell is concerned, he was wrong for suspending the players without having any hard evidence to support his actions.
The role of the commissioner is to enforce the rules of the league, which is what Goodell attempted to do. His mistake, however, was that he suspended the players based off a pay-for-performance bounty system. Official rules say the commissioner can’t suspend players because of a play-for-performance system so Goodell’s job is to now show evidence that the four players were indeed active participants in a bounty system that offered play-for-pain bonuses.
I agree with Goodell’s reasoning that something has to be done to punish players, coaches and franchises that promote pay-for-pain. Football is a rough-enough sport without the added incentives to intentionally hurt an opponent. Any entity that promotes such practices should be held accountable. But they need to be held accountable in a fair manner.
When Goodell suspended the four men and he didn’t provide any evidence, he was wrong and abused his power.
Neither the attorneys for the four players nor the NFL Players Union were given the opportunity to review evidence or cross-examine witnesses. As a matter of fact, they were not even informed of who the witnesses were or the “evidence” that was prevented.
Right is right and wrong is wrong.
Goodell was correct to investigate, but he was wrong to suspend the players without proving they were guilty. Goodell did not follow the proper procedures to discipline the players.
This is a classic reason why it is important to always have a system in place that holds everyone accountable – especially those with a lot of power.
Kudos to the three members of the panel who lifted the players’ suspensions and is making Goodell start his disciplinary process over again. If Goodell provides evidence that proves the players were active participants in the pay-for-pain bounty, then they need to be punished appropriately, as do the coaches and even the respective franchises.
Hopefully this entire process will result in two lessons: (1) No one should participate in or encourage pay-for-pain bounties and (2) Goodell needs to understand that while he is commissioner of the NFL, his role is not one of a dictator.
At Recorder press time, Goodell agreed to meet with each of the four players and their representatives, though a date had yet to be determined.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
