Chink in the NFL's armor

Baseball might be America’s pastime, but the NFL is clearly the cash cow of U.S. sports. With league revenues on pace to break the $10 billion barrier (MLB, NBA, and the NHL aren’t close) and the average value of its franchises sitting comfortably at $1 billion (once again, only major sport that can make that claim), the NFL is a safer bet to print money than the U.S. Treasury.  Hell, the Browns were sold for $1 billion last week and they’re in Cleveland (for now, anyways).

The NFL’s financial prosperity is connected to a well-managed public image that believes the league’s front office is driven by a fair-minded, common sense approach. However, the latest developments in the Bountygate scandal threaten that image of the NFL and its most identifiable figure, Commissioner Roger Goodell.  Evidence is mounting that the league is mishandling this crucial scandal.

The opening punch:

Suspended New Orleans Saints' linebacker Jonathan Vilma deserves recognition for consistently maintaining his innocence and demonstrating a willingness to clear his name throughout this scandal. The support of his teammates, coaching staff and organization should not be understated either. By filing a defamation of character lawsuit against Goodell (and refusing to drop it), Vilma created leverage by threatening the public’s view of the NFL as an impartial arbitrator. In recent years the NFL, and Goodell in particular, gained notoriety for giving players the most punitive player conduct punishments in U.S. sports. In fact, 4 of the 8 longest non-substance-abuse suspensions in the history of the NFL are during the Goodell era.  Players consistently grumble (here, here and here...guessing the Steelers aren't sending the Goodells a Christmas card this year...) that the entire process is akin to a kangaroo court because Goodell is simultaneously judge, jury and executioner.

The haymaker:

Sure, Vilma and other individuals implicated in Bountygate levied harsh criticisms at Roger Goodell. But it was Saints' quarterback (and media darling) Drew Brees that landed a punch that really stunned the commish. In late June, Brees delivered this salvo on Letterman:

"Put forth the facts, the truth, and if indeed there was a pay-to-injure scheme, then people will get punished, and if there's not, then let's exonerate these men because, at this point, it seems like it's a smear campaign...We're dragging them through the mud; we're ruining their reputations and careers with no true evidence."

When the guy with the largest guaranteed contract in your sport is speaking out against you, ears throughout the world of sports perk up. As soon as Brees’ quote made the airwaves, the 24/7 media cycle devoured it. By the end of that week, every elite NFL player that interviewed on the major networks was asked about Brees’ comment. After Brees spoke out against the commissioner, it was time for every player to put up or shut up. And the NFL isn’t home to the shut up type.

The score card:

Two days ago, news broke that the NFL was negotiating to reduce Vilma’s season-long 16 game suspension to 8 games. Reports also indicate that Vilma’s suspended compatriots (Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Green Bay defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove and Saints' defensive end Will Smith) may also have their suspensions reduced.

Regardless of the length of suspension he receives, Vilma’s challenge to Goodell’s expansive powers to discipline player conduct is a victory for players. Of course, the NFL maintains that "No such settlement offer has been made. We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time"

But where there's smoke, there's fire. These Bountygate suspensions are down for the count