Do you think its unfair that the NFL bans someone convicted of drunk driving?

Question

In Cincinnati where our Bengals have had a number of players in the wrong limelight of multiple types of violations in the last few years, Odell Thurman was banned for the entire 2007 season for repeated offenses. A local judge hearing his probation violation case decided to go off on the NFL for banning a player for being caught drinking and driving when the NFL has alchol sponsors and does nothing to cut off drinking at games. The judge even compared the illness of alcholism to breast cancer. Now I would love Odell to play but to me it is time to step up and not let players get by with an array of legal entaglements that give the league a bad name and give children such bad role models in sports. To me the judge has been in his ivory tower too long surrounded by lawyers and does not know how important it is for a league to show its a privilege to play in it not some right. The worst was comparing an alcholic who has a choice to drink or not to a breast cancer victim! Any thought

Tom W. - Guess what he is running for election this year in a hotly contested race and most judges get no publicity here during the year so yes I agree this was a political move that I hope backfires on him.

Clk4cb - I agree with you!!! I have known a lot of players since college and some can walk the walk but others just think they are owed this worship that comes with being a pro for many. I will continue to watch and support the sports I like but I will not sacrifice my believe that it is a privilege to play at that level so you should be held to a higher standard and if you go off you need to miss games, seasons or be banned for life. The think that is a joke to me with this judge is that professional teams also have gambling sponsors in state lotteries or casinos at times would he think its right for a player to bet on games and really harm the integrity of the game - that is a point in this city with the only living baseball player banned from the game and thus the hall of fame - Pete Rose.

I really do think that the NFL is comin up with a strong policy but the Vick situation will show more in the long run since you are taking a starting QB off a team hopefully for life due to his crime.
I think my major reason for the question was the blowhard politicians and others who want to get involved in the issue for their own political purposes and maybe in the long run overrule these type of suspensions by leagues.
I think we in Cincinnati are used to polticians trying to make local hay with blasting leagues on their suspensions, when Pete Rose was first suspended his lawyer tried some end run in our local courts and the judge was critical of the league and its actions towards Rose. Luckily for the intergrity of the league the local judge had no power to do anything, as Rose has proven by his words now that he did bet on baseball.

Answer 1

Unfair? No. I think professional (emphasis on professional) sports teams members need to be held to a higher standard--not in a court of law (where we are all 'equal') but by the teams and leagues they play for. Bad behavior can't be tolerated on or OFF the field, but has become the norm.
Poor little "Frankie" who grew up in the inner city of --worked his way through school..........all of a sudden has a HUGE contract making $XXX,XXX/year and thinks his money will buy him out of trouble.

I don't care if the guy has the best arm in the NFL..........if he's a freakin loser--I'd rather watch the second stringer who has some class! My husband and I used to attend professional events. I wouldn't dream of taking my kids to any professional sporting events anymore until I can be confident that "Mr. Superstar" won't flip someone off, yell obscenities moon someone or punch an opponent unprovoked.

Answer 2

Hopefully this will stop Mr Thruman from drinking and driving if only someone had did that for the Rams Leonard Little well that is before he killed a mother of 3. Why is this guy still playing football?

Answer 3

I did not read your whole question, but yes, it is fair. As being someone in the media who plays a sport, you are supposed to be a role model. All those kids that have the football games and watch it, really look up to those guys. So they need to keep their noses clean or get out!

Answer 4

would seem the new NFL commissioner agrees!

In his first state of the league address, new NFL commissioner Roger Goodell skipped the long-winded speech that marked Paul Tagliabue's annual fireside chat and went straight to questions. As expected, most centered on the character and ethics of players. From HGH testing to off-field conduct, Goodell seemed to signal that the league is headed toward cracking down on player misconduct.

"One incident is too many in my book," Goodell said of the league's rash of off-field troubles. "We need to reevaluate all of our programs. We've got to do more. [NFL Players Association executive director] Gene [Upshaw] and I are going to put together a group of players that we're going to meet with in the next several weeks to give us their perspective on what's really happening and what are the issues so we can try to learn something."

Goodell didn't provide specifics, but remained on the track he took in midseason, when he indicated that the league could attempt to strengthen the personal conduct penalty and begin holding teams accountable for players' missteps. But he also seemed to concede that developing ways to curb off-field incidents wasn't going to be an overnight process.

Testing for banned substances was another hot topic, with the commissioner expressing satisfaction that players have spoken out about their peers committing substance violations. Much of that criticism came in the wake of Shawne Merriman's four-game suspension after a positive test for a banned substance earlier this season. Some players, including Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, expressed dismay that a player who violated the substance ban could win awards and remain eligible for the Pro Bowl. Merriman was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster and finished third in voting for AP defensive player of the year behind Taylor and Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey.

"The thing that makes me proudest about that," Goodell said, "is the fact that our players are the ones that have stood up and said 'We don't want this in the game, and we also don't think that someone who violates this policy, whether intentionally or not, should be awarded a postseason spot on a Pro Bowl roster.' That's terrific."

Upshaw and Goodell said there are some issues to be worked out when it comes to suspensions and their possible effects on postseason awards – the largest being the contract escalators that are often tied to awards. It remains to be seen whether the league would be willing to institute an edict – the "Shawne Merriman Rule," if you will – that states a player cannot be eligible for postseason honors if he has violated the banned substances policy.

Goodell did make it clear that the league isn't writing off testing for human growth hormone, despite insisting for months that no reliable test exists. The commissioner pointed out the league's recently announced plans to strengthen the steroid testing program, which will target EPO and amount to over 12,000 tests per year. Blood testing for HGH has yet to be added, but Goodell insisted the league is heading in that direction.

"We are investing money to develop [an HGH] test," he said. "I don't know whether that will be a blood test or a urine test. We are going to pursue both.

"We think it's important to have a test on this level. We're developing a more sophisticated test that I think is going to be very helpful – the carbon isotope test – which is giving us the ability to understand the ratios and detect testosterone at a very low level."

Asked if he's troubled by the fact that players continue to try to cheat to get an edge, Goodell responded, "That's just the reality of the world. When you establish rules, people try to get around them."

Answer 5

Judges are politicians and therefore whores and not someone I want to hear pontificate for lesser punishment and watered down commuity mores. This is a judge who knows that this would be carried in the media and people would remember his name next time there is an election.

Answer 6

It seems to me that they don't want that type of liability in any capacity. It could cost them millions of dollars, never mind if someone was killed because of a player's fault. It is a hard call, though, I must admit.

Answer 7

No.