During training camp, I asked several players to anonymously grade the performance of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
All but one gave him a “B.” The game is good. The game is great. The rewards are substantial.
So why not give him an “A”? Every single player came up with the same reason: Goodell is too dictatorial in the way he governs his own personally written personal conduct policy.
This can’t be debated. Goodell’s heavy-handed and seemingly arbitrary system of meting out punishment is true enough. The part of me that appreciates democracy sympathizes with the players’ concerns. And another part of me says: So?
I understand there’s been a backlash to Goodell’s conduct policy, but it seems to me like it’s working. Compared with that shameful period of Pacman Jones and the Bengals’ Nine in 2006-07, the dramatic reduction in embarrassing off-field incidents suggests players are aware punishment is lurking.
“I think they’re not only aware, but I think it’s changing behavior,” Goodell said during his trip here Monday for the Broncos-Steelers game at Invesco Field. “I’m a big believer that when you set the bar, people will go meet the bar. If you set it lower, they’ll settle there. If you set it higher, they’ll go meet that.”
This doesn’t mean Boy Scouts are now filling up NFL rosters, or that young players have stopped making serious mistakes. Donte’ Stallworth, whom I considered the nicest guy on that historic 2007 Patriots team, was apparently too buzzed to consider the consequences of climbing behind the wheel following an all-night bender in Miami’s South Beach.
And Plaxico Burress was too clumsy when he walked into a Manhattan night club with a loaded pistol. But the NFL tolerated neither incident.
“They’re going to make mistakes,” Goodell said. “The most important thing for them to understand is there are consequences for your actions. Particularly when you’re in the spotlight like our players, our coaches, anybody involved in the NFL. It’s not a player conduct policy, it’s a personal conduct policy. It’s a high standard, and I think our fans deserve that.”
There are some inconsistencies in the administration of the conduct policy that Goodell must address. Jeff Reed is still kicking for the Steelers. Tom Cable is still coaching the Raiders.
And not surprisingly, the NFL players are reluctant to credit Goodell for any perceived behavior correction among their fraternity.
“I think they do it because they want to have a good image,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose own image took a hit this year from allegations out of Lake Tahoe. “I don’t think they necessarily do it because they’re nervous or scared about what the league might do.”
Most players do understand they are held up as role models. Others, particularly the young, have never given it much thought. This is why Broncos rookies gathered Friday for their fourth of six scheduled meetings regarding the off-field culture of NFL players. There is punishing the misdeed. And there is proactively attempting to prevent unseemly conduct.
I was there at a Chicago hotel in the summer of 2006 when NFL owners narrowly chose Goodell, and not attorney Gregg Levy, to succeed Paul Tagliabue as commissioner.
Six months later, Goodell strengthened the league’s personal conduct policy, and four players — Jones, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson and Michael Vick — were handed lengthy suspensions for essentially shaming the game.
The Broncos’ Brandon Marshall received a one-game suspension for his numerous run-ins with his former girlfriend.
The behavioral transformation we’ve all seen in Marshall could be viewed as anecdotal evidence that Goodell’s strengthened conduct policy has settled into the players’ subconscious.
“I knew it was quite a task the commissioner was talking about,” said Tom Jackson, the former Broncos great and longtime ESPN NFL analyst. “When he started talking about making guys responsible for their conduct, both on and off the field, I knew that he was biting off quite a lot there. I think in the long term, it’s had an effect. I think it will have more of an effect as it goes on. And I think there will be guys who will not get it. The Pacman Joneses of the world are not going to get it. It doesn’t matter what your rulings are or how heavy handed you are, he’s just not going to get it.”
Eye on …
Jay Cutler, quarterback, Bears
What: After throwing five interceptions Thursday in a 10-6 loss to San Francisco, Cutler has 17 picks through nine games, which puts him on pace for 30. An NFL quarterback hasn’t reached the dubious 30-pick milestone since Vinny Testaverde was a young Tampa Bay QB in 1988.
Background: Since leading Heritage Hills High School to a 15-0 record and Indiana state championship as a senior, Cutler is working on his eighth consecutive losing season. He was 11-34 as a four-year starter at Vanderbilt. The No. 11 overall pick by the Broncos in the 2006 draft, Cutler went 2-3, 7-9 and 8-8 in his three seasons here before demanding a trade in March. He is 4-5 with the Bears. That adds up to a 32-59 record since high school.
Klis’ take: Cutler was never this bad with the Broncos. He clearly is playing without confidence — besides the interceptions against the 49ers, he twice missed open receivers on third-down throws. But few feel sorry for Cutler because he brought this situation upon himself. By refusing to keep appointed phone-call conversations with coach Josh McDaniels and owner Pat Bowlen, Cutler got himself traded out of town. Careful what you wish for. He was first proclaimed as a savior by Bears fans — heady stuff for anyone to handle, much less a QB who has never played in the pressure of a playoff game since high school.
At issue
Midseason awards
MVP: Drew Brees, QB, Saints, and Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Klis’ take: It’s silly to pick one ahead of the other. They’re each leading 8-0 teams. They’re each passing at ridiculously high efficiency — Brees has an NFL-best 106.1 rating; Manning is passing for an NFL-best 318 yards per game. This would have been one instance in which voters should be encouraged to split their ballots.
Defensive player: Darren Sharper, S, Saints
Klis’ take: The Saints tied for 20th in the league last year with 22 takeaways. This year they’re first with 24. Sharper is the main reason for the turnaround. He’s tied for the league lead with seven interceptions, three of which he’s returned for touchdowns.
Top offensive rookie: Percy Harvin, WR-KR, Vikings
Klis’ take: He has three touchdowns receiving and two touchdowns on kick returns.
Top defensive rookie: Jairus Byrd, S, Bills
Klis’ take: The second-rounder has two interceptions in three consecutive games.
Top coach: Bill Belichick, Patriots, and Josh McDaniels, Broncos
Klis’ take: It used to bother me when the NBA’s MVP award would often go to that year’s second-best player to Michael Jordan. Belichick has been the NFL’s undisputed best coach since his 2001 season Super Bowl upset of the St. Louis Rams. This season he lost his GM, offensive coordinator, several coaches and nearly overhauled his defense, yet is 6-2. He also groomed the coach who is the leading candidate of this year’s award: McDan- iels.
The incredible criticism McDaniels received during the offseason serves as the tiebreaker among new coaches off to fast starts.
On the hot seat
Unlikely goat
Who: Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
When: 6:20 tonight, as Manning and the Indianapolis Colts host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Why: I know. A quarterback who is one of the all- time best and currently orchestrating a 17-game regular-season winning streak should never be on the hot seat. But any time Manning plays Brady, the pressure is on Manning. Brady is 7-3 in head-to-head matchups against Manning, although at one point it was 6-0. The early lopsided nature of this rivalry has left the impression that Manning may be the better overall QB, but Brady is better in the big games.
Ups and downs
THREE UP
1. Bengals: Beat Ravens twice by scoring 17 points in each win.
2. Buccaneers: Former Bronco Tim Crowder had four tackles in first win last week.
3. Titans: Vince Young is Orton-like 20-11 as Titans starter.
THREE DOWN
1. Broncos: Mitch Berger and Ty Law made Broncos older, but maybe not better.
2. Packers: Aaron Kampman woozy with concussion.
3. Bears: Matt Forte averaging 37 yards rushing in last two losses.
