Goodell Proposes Crackdown on Cheating

[Bronx33]

lol! this coming from a guy that burns evidence.


LINK

ashington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 7, 2008; Page E01

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wants the league to conduct unannounced inspections of locker rooms, stadium press boxes and in-game communications equipment, and to lower the standard of proof needed for him to impose penalties on a team or person for cheating, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post.

The proposals were among a series of changes Goodell wants implemented before next season "to preserve the competitive integrity of the game" and "maintain public confidence" in the sport, according to the memo, which he sent to the league's competition committee yesterday. The memo represents Goodell's strongest response to the controversy stemming from the videotaping scandal involving the New England Patriots this past season and the league's handling of it.

"As the Commissioner and Competition Committee, we must take every appropriate step to safeguard the integrity of the NFL," Goodell wrote in the memo. "We have already taken some positive and significant actions this past season, but we must go further to ensure fair competition amongst our 32 teams and maintain public confidence in our game."

Goodell pledged to impose more severe penalties on teams and employees who violate rules governing competition. He also proposed a measure requiring team employees to report "actual or suspected" violations and another that would require each team's principal owner, top football executive and head coach to stipulate annually, under the threat of league discipline, that they complied with the rules and reported violations.

In addition, Goodell endorsed a proposal to connect one defensive player per team with a coach on the sideline via a wireless device during games, and urged the committee to conduct "a thorough review" of all competitive rules and policies.

"I think there are a number of steps that should be taken in advance of the start of the 2008 season to improve and strengthen the enforcement procedures designed to preserve the competitive integrity of the game," Goodell wrote.

The competition committee, which is the NFL's primary rule-making body, will convene for a week of meetings in Naples, Fla., beginning Wednesday. Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said that Goodell's proposals will be considered at those meetings.

"All of these are things we are going to explore more fully," Anderson said by telephone from the league offices in New York.

Said New York Giants co-owner John Mara, a member of the competition committee: "We're all concerned about the integrity of the game. My interpretation is, the commissioner is asking us to look at different ways to enforce the rules to make sure everyone is on a level playing field and our fans can be confident in the integrity of our game. I don't think there's widespread cheating going on, but when you're in such a competitive industry, sometimes there are suspicions out there."

Goodell wrote in his memo that the competition committee should not feel bound by his proposals. Any recommendations by the committee could be presented to owners at the annual league meeting that begins March 30 in Palm Beach, Fla. A proposed rule change must be approved by at least three-fourths of the owners. But Goodell could enact some of the administrative proposals in his memo unilaterally, and several people familiar with the issue said they don't foresee him encountering much opposition to any measure he deems necessary.

Goodell received widespread praise for his crackdown last year on player misconduct. However, he has received criticism for his handling of the New England scandal. In September, Goodell fined the Patriots $250,000 and Coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and stripped the team of a first-round draft pick after it was caught videotaping the defensive play signals of the New York Jets' coaches, in violation of league rules, during the opening game of the season. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) has been highly critical of the league's handling of the case and has threatened to reexamine the NFL's exemption from federal antitrust laws.

League officials said that after that incident, the NFL informed teams that they would be monitored more closely for violations of the rules governing fair play. Anderson said yesterday that included checks of the wireless communication equipment in stadiums used by teams during games. Goodell wrote in his memo that the previously undisclosed program will continue.

Goodell wrote: "This will include spot checks of club facilities, including team locker rooms; press boxes and coaches booths; coach-to-quarterback and other in-stadium communication systems . . . and enhanced monitoring of team practices. Many of these checks will be virtually unannounced and clubs would be expected fully to cooperate with this effort."

One person familiar with Goodell's proposals said the new threshold for imposing punishment for a rule violation would be closer to a preponderance of the evidence than beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Too often, competitive violations have gone unpunished because conclusive proof of the violation was lacking," Goodell wrote. "I believe we should reconsider the standard of proof to be applied in such cases, and make it easier for a competitive violation to be established. And where a violation is shown, I intend to impose more stringent penalties on both the club and the responsible individual(s). I will also be prepared to make greater use of draft choice forfeiture in appropriate cases. I believe this will have the effect of deterring violations and making people more willing to report violations on a timely basis."

The coach-to-defense communication proposal fell two votes shy of owner approval last spring. It would eliminate the need for coaches to use hand signals for defensive plays and it would put the defense on equal footing with the offense, because quarterbacks already use those devices.

[Kaylore]

Just let the defense use headsets. Is it that big of a deal?

[boltaneer]

It's nice to see a real effort being put into this for the future but Goodell had his chance to really lay down the law on the Patriots last year and he struck out big time.

He's feeling the heat for this now and this is all just PR spin to save face for blowing it with spygate.

[orange crusher]

Originally Posted by boltaneer

It's nice to see a real effort being put into this for the future but Goodell had his chance to really lay down the law on the Patriots last year and he struck out big time.

He's feeling the heat for this now and this is all just PR spin to save face for blowing it with spygate.

Exactly!

[snowtrx]

So are you guys saying $750k and a 1st round pick was not acceptable and wont deter them or others from cheating again?

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

So are you guys saying $750k and a 1st round pick was not acceptable and wont deter them or others from cheating again?

Not if in exchange they got to keep quiet all of their cheating...the goal was to let us now only the tip of the iceberg...but then the roof caved in when it came out the cheating had been going on since 2000 and may have involved even filiming the walkthrough by the Rams for the SB.

[snowtrx]

Lets assume they cheated since the dawn of the franchise, what more should they be punished?

Should every single assumption or accusation from the past become an investigation possibly resulting in furthor punishment?

Should there be an investigation on the domes in Minn and Ind? How about the 49ers, Broncos, Redskins, Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys, Rams, and any other that has been accused of cheating in the past?

Or should they just move forward by working to improve their systems to prevent future cheating by any team?

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

Lets assume they cheated since the dawn of the franchise, what more should they be punished? Should every single assumption or accusation from the past become an investigation possibly resulting in furthor punishment?

If they cheated since the dawn of time, then there is much more than we are told, and if that is the case, then YES, they should be further punished. You don't get a free pass just because they punished you for one offence.

[boltaneer]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

Lets assume they cheated since the dawn of the franchise, what more should they be punished?

Should every single assumption or accusation from the past become an investigation possibly resulting in furthor punishment?

Should there be an investigation on the domes in Minn and Ind? How about the 49ers, Broncos, Redskins, Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys, Rams, and any other that has been accused of cheating in the past?

Or should they just move forward by working to improve their systems to prevent future cheating by any team?

There is a huge problem with the consistency in which he has handled different situations as commissioner so far.

Wade Wison (Cowboys QB coach) was suspended five games and received a find of $100K (a much stiffer penalty percentage-wise compared to Belichick BTW) for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

I love Goodell's answer when he was questioned about if the punishment was appropriate:

"First of all, I'm not going to get into the personal situations of why Wade was taking it, but that's not an accurate point. Second of all, Wade Wilson was involved in a criminal activity. It was against the law. There's a very clear policy for our clubs and our players that if you violate that, it's a four-game suspension. I suspended him for five games because I think a coach should be held to a higher standard. That is why I approached it that way. They all understand the rules, and I think we did what was appropriate in Wade Wilson's case, and I'm comfortable with that."

Using this logic, shouldn't Belichick be held to even a higher standard than Wilson because he's a HEAD COACH?

Were the tapes destroyed and did Belichick and the Patriots receive a slap on the wrist because Goodell is close friends with Robert Kraft and Kraft is one of the main reasons Goodell is now commissioner?

Had Goodell been consistent with his actions and issued suspensions just like he has to everyone else who has violated league policy, I don't think NFL fans would be suspicious of Goodell and this issue would be in the past. Like he said in his cute little press release there, the NFL needs to preserve the competitive integrity of the game. Coming from a man who has made some shady decisions regarding Spygate, it's almost laughable.

[theAPAOps5]

Goodell dropped the ball. Yeah losing a first rounder is hard but not for the patriots, since they have 2 and they are loaded at the right positions. The fact that he burned the tapes just reeks of mischief.

[dark_hawk]

What I really wanna know is what did he really gain by destroying the tapes. The Pats would have had to be stupid to not have a digital backup copy somewhere. The whole deal seems kinda shady to me.

[KipCorrington25]

Goodell is losing credability fast.

[snowtrx]

Originally Posted by boltaneer

Had Goodell been consistent with his actions...

Consistency is a matter of opinion and I understand some see inconsistency in his dealing with the Pats. But why? This isnt about drugs or individuals, its about a franchise cheating.

When a team gets caught cheating in the late nineties, the NFL fines close to a million and a 3rd round pick per incident. Then immediately sweeps it under the rug and proclaims no competitive advantage was gained. When a team gets caught cheating in 2007, the NFL fines close to a million and a more damaging 1st round pick. Then immediately tries to sweep it under the rug and claim no competitive advantage was gained. How can the NFL be more consistent?

In addition, I'm glad the NFL didnt single out and suspend BB. If they did, they would be saying its a BB problem and not a Patriot problem. Besides, this way the Pats dont have two first round picks.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by KipCorrington25

Goodell is losing credability fast.

Yup.

[Bronco Yoda]

"In addition, Goodell endorsed a proposal to connect one defensive player per team with a coach on the sideline via a wireless device during games, and urged the committee to conduct "a thorough review" of all competitive rules and policies."

Just ask BB... it works great.

funny how BB turned over like 5 tapes and they were all last preseason and we're suppose to buy that. BB has about 10 years of reg season, playoffs, Super Bowls... let alone his little walk-through tapes ....going all the way back to browny days. Wonder where he's keeping them these days?

http://media.collegepublisher.com/me...728bf-93-1.jpg
(BB secret video vault and dubbing team)

[boltaneer]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

Consistency is a matter of opinion and I understand some see inconsistency in his dealing with the Pats. But why? This isnt about drugs or individuals, its about a franchise cheating.

When a team gets caught cheating in the late nineties, the NFL fines close to a million and a 3rd round pick per incident. Then immediately sweeps it under the rug and proclaims no competitive advantage was gained. When a team gets caught cheating in 2007, the NFL fines close to a million and a more damaging 1st round pick. Then immediately tries to sweep it under the rug and claim no competitive advantage was gained. How can the NFL be more consistent?

You would have a good point about consistency had Goodell been commissioner back in the 90's. It was a different time run by a different commissioner. You have to look at what action he has taken under his tenure so far. IIRC, Belichick is the only one who has violated league rules or policy and has escaped suspension.

And when you throw in the speculation that the reason Goodell swept this under the rug and slapped the wrist of the Patriots, is because he is close friends with Kraft, that makes it even more despicable.

[boltaneer]

Originally Posted by snowtrx

Consistency is a matter of opinion and I understand some see inconsistency in his dealing with the Pats. But why? This isnt about drugs or individuals, its about a franchise cheating.

One more thing about this... cheating at this level is no different than committing some crime involving drugs (or violence) or whatever NFL players have been caught doing this past year.

If the NFL didn't exist in it's happy little anti-trust world and this was a real world business where the thirty two teams were all individually run and were in competition with each other, had Belichick gotten caught stealing information through illegal means, he would be in some serious trouble and probably would be sharing a cell with Michael Vick.

[Bronco Yoda]

shhh.... don't bag on SnowTrx's patsies. They are perfect little angels after all.

Last time I pointed out their cheating ways he went on a neg rep rampage on me.. lol

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by Bronco Yoda

shhh.... don't bag on SnowTrx's patsies. They are perfect little angels after all.

Last time I pointed out their cheating ways he went on a neg rep rampage on me.. lol

Yeah, he neg repped me too.

[Bronx33]

Originally Posted by Cito Pelon

Yeah, he neg repped me too.

Really?

[orinjkrush]

i won't believe anything Goodyell says unless he takes a lie detector and steroid test.

[Merlin]

Although I think Snowtrx has a poor grasp of the implications of the league's actions, in this thread he has been reasonable (although wrong ), and has not neg rep'd me.