Phoenix – Once the much-discussed issue of off-field player misconduct is set into policy, there may be an irresistible inclination to anoint it with a pithy moniker like “Pacman Rules” or “Bengal Law.”
With apologies to those multiple offenders in Tennessee and Cincinnati, though, nothing motivated the NFL to address its off-field problems more than the shooting death of an innocent victim, Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams.
“The commissioner has been concerned about this issue since last September,” said Michael Haynes, a former star cornerback who heads NFL player development. “But I would say that tragedy served as an impetus, yes.”
The commissioner, Roger Goodell, will address revisions to the league’s player-conduct policy here today with head coaches and owners at the NFL owners meetings, but will not formally present a new rule.
“But I assure you it will be stronger,” he said.
There will be two major components to the revised conduct policy. One is to provide harsher punishment for repeat offenders. The other is a preventative measure by increasing the education for all players on the potential perils that await high-profile athletes while mingling with the ills of society.
This is where the spirit of Williams carries on. His influence on the NFL’s new policy is not mentioned mainly because Williams himself was not guilty of any misbehavior. To the contrary, Williams reportedly followed the instructions set forth in the league’s current off-field program. Instead of driving himself away from a downtown Denver nightclub, Williams hired a limousine. Instead of agitating an altercation, he reportedly implored his friends and teammates to get out of harm’s way.
Yet, there was an altercation on the troublesome side of midnight. And when Williams innocently paid the ultimate price, league officials were compelled to examine what happens to their players once the game is finished.
“That was such a tragic incident, but it is about player safety and it’s about what players should know and what they should be prepared for,” Goodell said after his news conference Monday. “It’s part of the education to a large extent. So, yeah, I would say that had an impact.”
For now, talk has been tough, but until there is action against law-breaking players, there will be questions as to whether the new policy has teeth. The NFL acknowledges it has an image problem. The arrests of nine Bengals last year and the multiple off-field incidents involving Titans cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones have sullied the league’s reputation to the point all those associated with the NFL shield are affected.
“We’re all annoyed that we have to go to functions and answer questions about players who aren’t even our teammates,” said Domonique Foxworth, the Broncos cornerback who is part of a player advisory panel that recommended harsher penalties for off-field misconduct.
Goodell said a new player-conduct policy would be enacted prior to the draft, which will be held April 28-29. When that happens, Pacman and the Bengals can expect to be ridiculed for forging the new law, even if Williams’ murder was the unstated instigator.
“Unfortunately, we have a few players make bad decisions, Pac being one of them,” said Jeff Fisher, coach of Jones and the Tennessee Titans. “The league is heading down the right path. We need to tighten things up and hold players more accountable for their choices.”
But how? In a judicial system in which innocence is presumed and high-priced lawyers dominate, Goodell admits the league cannot uniformly enforce automatic, one- year suspensions or three-strikes-and- you’re-out sentences. But the league will try to extend in-house justice to repeat offenders such as Jones, Cincinnati’s Chris Henry and Chicago’s Tank Johnson. A provision that allows the NFL to suspend repeat offenders “up to one year” is expected.
“At some point we need to be able to act before the judicial process is completed,” Goodell said.
“I don’t think the public wants to see overindulged athletes who are getting a lot of money and don’t respect the responsibility and privilege they have,” New England owner Robert Kraft said. “I don’t think major sponsors want to brand with us if we’re not diligent in that area.”
Somehow, some way, it always comes down to money. Mostly, though, the new policy will be about more education. The hope is that the more players are taught about trouble, the easier it becomes to avoid it. It may sound trite, but short of imposing a league-wide curfew or bans against nightclubs that violates all human rights, what can the NFL do?
“I don’t think you’d see a curfew or ban from certain places, because obviously that wouldn’t work,” Foxworth said. “I think maybe expanding the rookie symposium to a year-round thing. That was one of the things we as players proposed. We all agreed that for first- and second-year players we need to have something once a month for them. Just to keep them fresh on how to handle certain situations.”
Six of the nine Bengals arrested last year were rookies or second-year players. Pacman just finished his second NFL season. So did Williams, who won’t get a chance to play a third.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
