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No change to conduct policy … yet
PHOENIX – The NFL owners meetings went silently Wednesday, without grandiose changes to the rulebook or the league's personal conduct policy.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will be making headway on the conduct policy and aims to have something in place before the NFL draft, but the league's get-tough guidelines are likely to be fluid and under revision through the next year.
"I don't think this is a one-time [fix] and put it away and you solve your issues," Goodell said. "This is an ongoing issue that we're going to have to continue to evaluate."
In what should be an indication of forthcoming policy, Goodell will meet Tuesday with Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chris Henry. Those two players have had numerous off-field issues. Both could be looking at significant suspensions next season, with Jones expected to fare the worst with a potential one-season ban. Goodell will be briefed by NFL security regarding the legal issues both players have dealt with over the last year.
But whatever punishment is meted out, Goodell's toughest issue with the conduct policy might be figuring out how to deal with lesser off-field incidents. While disciplining the consistent troublemakers could prove to be a somewhat easy process, handling players whose incidents lack the severity and regularity of those experienced by Jones and Henry is expected to become more contentious. And Goodell would rather not become the "hand of God" when it comes to punishment, acting instead to instill more regimented policies that allow teams to handle their issues without the league's brass lording over their shoulder.
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"I'm not looking necessarily for the sole responsibility," Goodell said. "I like the idea that clubs will take greater control of their clubs and the actions of their employees. The thing that Gene [Upshaw] wants to ensure is that there is consistency – that the policies and the discipline are applied in a consistent fashion across all 32 teams, but also even within the teams."
Other news from the meetings:
The league's competition committee tweaked a few rules, but they lacked the zest of some of the more recent changes (like the horse-collar tackle and pass interference changes). Among the new regulations: spiking the ball in the field of play after a down has ended (except after a touchdown) is now a 5-yard penalty; instant replay of "down by contact" plays will now be a permanent staple, but officials will now only have 60-seconds to view replays (down from 90 seconds); and unintentional touching of a forward pass by an offensive lineman is no longer a penalty.
The return to Los Angeles didn't receive any attention at these meetings, but Goodell said that isn't an indication of a diminished interest in the market. However, it no longer appears to be a front-burner issue.
The collective bargaining agreement and revenue sharing were discussed, as always, but there doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency as the league and NFLPA still have almost 19 months before the first opportunity to opt out of the current labor deal.
There was little traction on how to solve the acrimony which has developed about overtime procedures. Some coaches and owners have expressed support for making sure each team gets the ball on offense in overtime, rather than the current coin flip and sudden-death format. But there is a larger concern over how that scenario would change the end of regulation – with teams theoretically more interested in stalling and going to overtime rather than driving for a winning score.
PHOENIX – The NFL owners meetings went silently Wednesday, without grandiose changes to the rulebook or the league's personal conduct policy.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will be making headway on the conduct policy and aims to have something in place before the NFL draft, but the league's get-tough guidelines are likely to be fluid and under revision through the next year.
"I don't think this is a one-time [fix] and put it away and you solve your issues," Goodell said. "This is an ongoing issue that we're going to have to continue to evaluate."
In what should be an indication of forthcoming policy, Goodell will meet Tuesday with Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam Jones and Cincinnati Bengals wideout Chris Henry. Those two players have had numerous off-field issues. Both could be looking at significant suspensions next season, with Jones expected to fare the worst with a potential one-season ban. Goodell will be briefed by NFL security regarding the legal issues both players have dealt with over the last year.
But whatever punishment is meted out, Goodell's toughest issue with the conduct policy might be figuring out how to deal with lesser off-field incidents. While disciplining the consistent troublemakers could prove to be a somewhat easy process, handling players whose incidents lack the severity and regularity of those experienced by Jones and Henry is expected to become more contentious. And Goodell would rather not become the "hand of God" when it comes to punishment, acting instead to instill more regimented policies that allow teams to handle their issues without the league's brass lording over their shoulder.
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"I'm not looking necessarily for the sole responsibility," Goodell said. "I like the idea that clubs will take greater control of their clubs and the actions of their employees. The thing that Gene [Upshaw] wants to ensure is that there is consistency – that the policies and the discipline are applied in a consistent fashion across all 32 teams, but also even within the teams."
Other news from the meetings:
The league's competition committee tweaked a few rules, but they lacked the zest of some of the more recent changes (like the horse-collar tackle and pass interference changes). Among the new regulations: spiking the ball in the field of play after a down has ended (except after a touchdown) is now a 5-yard penalty; instant replay of "down by contact" plays will now be a permanent staple, but officials will now only have 60-seconds to view replays (down from 90 seconds); and unintentional touching of a forward pass by an offensive lineman is no longer a penalty.
The return to Los Angeles didn't receive any attention at these meetings, but Goodell said that isn't an indication of a diminished interest in the market. However, it no longer appears to be a front-burner issue.
The collective bargaining agreement and revenue sharing were discussed, as always, but there doesn't appear to be a sense of urgency as the league and NFLPA still have almost 19 months before the first opportunity to opt out of the current labor deal.
There was little traction on how to solve the acrimony which has developed about overtime procedures. Some coaches and owners have expressed support for making sure each team gets the ball on offense in overtime, rather than the current coin flip and sudden-death format. But there is a larger concern over how that scenario would change the end of regulation – with teams theoretically more interested in stalling and going to overtime rather than driving for a winning score.
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