Roger Goodell’s neglect has created greed-driven NFL mess
Though we know that for his $70 million-plus per year Roger Goodell is a very busy man, is he too busy to take care of the NFL?
We know his strengths:
Selling lousy NFL games in Germany and England. Suckering customers with bait-and-switch games to maximize TV money. Decorating end zones with socially correct messages that are more needed by NFL players than TV audiences. Ensuring that every game is tethered to a bet or three. Pitching bad-deal, extortion-like PSLs as good investments. Ignoring or minimizing the criminal behavior of players, and choosing vulgar, women-degrading, N-word-spewing rappers for crotch-grabbing Super Bowl entertainment.
But its long past time for Goodell to spend some of his counting house time doing what once was presumed to be the primary mission of sports commissioners:/p>
Keeping their league vibrant and valuable by first and foremost taking care of the game. If the game is steadily diminished, how does that serve the best investment interests of the team owners who appoint, sustain and vote to improve the pay of commissioners?
5Getty ImagesThe NFL, its games annually burdened by degraded play and take-it-for-granted neglect or Band-Aid treatment of serious ailments, is a mess.
The players are out of control, the NFLs TV partners in exchange for billions mindlessly promote the most uncivil acts among players and spectators, and the rules of the game hus the outcomes of games are a matter of game-to-game changes and often rotten guesswork that were supposed to indulge with a shrug.
Meanwhile the average game, especially halfway through the season, is now determined by survivors third-string QBs throwing to taxi-squad receivers after taking the snap from a guy who a week ago was delivering dry cleaning.
In the past two weeks, weve listened to and observed a sweep: The three on-call, highly regarded, ask-for-them-by-name former NFL game officials CBS Gene Steratore, Foxs Dean Blandino NBC/Primes Terry McAulay have been left astonished, unable to square why a call was made, wasnt overturned or was overturned. And if they dont get it, why should we?
Thursday night, in another backup QB competition between mediocre teams exclusively seen via added-cost streaming to keep NFL TV revenues maxed the now 3-10 Patriots defeated the now 7-6 Steelers, 21-18, in large part due to totally confused late-game illegal motion call on Pats long snapper Christian Kuntz on a fourth-and-3.
But video showed no extraordinary movement from Kuntz but rather what appeared to be offsides on the Pats a call that wouldve given Pittsburgh a first down.
McAulay: So theyre saying Kuntz made a quick and abrupt movement the illegal motion standard prior to the snap. I dont see this as quick and abrupt. Obviously, its subjective. This looks like the normal movement that we see from a long snapper. I think this should have been on the defense.
5The referees missed a potential pass interference call to end the Chiefs-Packers game. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConOh, well, another what-the-heck-was-that? NFL game. Three-play parlay, anyone?
It doesnt seem to be a matter of inferior officiating but a game buckling under the weight of its own ever-changing and selectively called rules, a troubled game that has run away from home, a game in need of firm, sensible and vigilant guidance, and a rulebook makeover to both simplify and clarify.
But thats not happening on Goodells watch, as he might surmise that the public is well satisfied by the sight of players doing all-about-me dances now often in large groups regardless of the score or their teams record. And if we watch to enjoy the sight of drunken, sometimes violent stadium sots regularly dressed for the occasion, Id insist that Goodell sit among them.
Goodells attraction to TV money at any price is relentless.
Now Dec. 17s Sunday afternoon Eagles-Seahawks has been flexed baited-and-switched to Monday night for TV ratings that help foster lucrative advertising deals. To hell with ticket buyers, those who made plans to attend a 1:25 p.m. PST Sunday game in Seattle, on a weekend, and those East of the Mississippi who otherwise would have been awake to watch the gaes end.
The shameless arrogance of the Goodell Reign of Financial Terror seems to shout: You dont like it? Its unfair? Youre a 20-year ticket holder? Tough. Take it or leave it. What are you gonna do about it, peon?
The Seahawks forced you to buy PSLs to sustain your allegiance and financing? Good! Youre a sucker. Weve made tens of thousands of them since I was hired.
5This week’s “Thursday Night Football” game featured two backup quarterbacks. Getty ImagesAnd the formula holds: The better your team, the greater the burden. This will be the Eagles sixth prime-time game this season.
You good with it all? No? Who cares? Not Roger Goodell. Not the commissioner of the NFL.
Sorrow, respect for Erskines
Ex-Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers pitcher of renown Carl Erskine Oisk to our fathers and grandfathers is 96, and to those whove met him, hes known as the kindest person theyve been fortunate enough to meet. Last week, he lost his son, Jimmy, at 63.
Jimmy was born with Down Syndrome. At the time, Down Syndrome kids had a life expectancy of about 15. But the Erskines, rather than institutionalize Jimmy as was the prevailing solution, took him home then actively encouraged his existence as a mainstreamed kid, then teen, then adult. He worked at an Applebees for 20 years.
Not sure whether to express my condolences first, or my admiration.
5Former Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine and his son Jimmy attend the 2005 Dodger Adult Camp in Vero Beach, Florida.Last weeks 49ers-Eagles turned NFL-ugly when a sideline street hassle left Niners LB Dre Greenlaw ejected while security officer Dom DiSandro entered the fray on behalf of the Eagles when, ostensibly, he should have been policing the area.
And at no time did Foxs Kevin Burnhardt and Greg Olsen, the latter never at a loss for words, offer a word of condemnation. They even sounded amused by the scene as per the nervous media pandering thats laying sports lower and lower.
SNY in wrong state
After the Mets season, SNY may as well call itself SCT Sports Connecticut for its consistent abandonment of more local sports while servicing its deals to report and promote UConn sports.
Wednesday, Iona, Hofstra, Rutgers and St, Johns played basketball. Not a highlight seen on SNYs studio show. But UConn womens 27-point win over Ball State was covered with video and interviews.
Why SNY regularly chooses to short local sports, thus eliminate potential regular viewers, instead of serving all remains a mystery.
5UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Minnesota. APSunday we get Hollerin Kevin Harlan with Trent Green on CBS Texans-Jets. Green was a solid analyst when paired with Greg Gumbel, who gave the space to speak and the decorum to be heard. But Green has been swallowed by the scream-at-anything style of Harlan.
Penn State basketball guard RayQuawndis Mitchell is playing for his fifth college. Penn State also has a recruit from Iceland and two from Nigeria. Here, there, everywhere whatever it takes.
Cant wait for Foxs fascinating NFL halftime show, Sunday. Last week it carefully inspected other games to show a 1-yard TD plunge in Panthers-Buccaneers.
Priorities: Rutgers sent its basketball coaching staff to Hungary to successfully recruit Dylan Harper. Jersey tax dollars at work! Soon RU will launch its annual drive for donations to feed undernourished students.
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