Goodell Drops The Hammer!

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The New Orleans Saints received the equivalent of what the NCAA calls the death penalty yesterday when Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, unleashed the penalties for what has become known as Bountygate.  For the last three years, the Saints have placed bounties on opposing team players funded by voluntary contributions of team members.  The bounty program was directed by the Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams, who has since moved on to join the staff of the St. Louis Rams.  His penalty has followed him.

Williams was suspended indefinitely from the NFL, effective immediately.  Saints Head Coach Sean Payton has been suspended without pay for the 2012 NFL season, effective April 1.  Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season.  Additionally, Assistant Head Coach, Joe Vitt has been suspended for the first six regular-season games of the 2012 season without pay.  The organization has been fined $500,000 and will forfeit their selections in the second round of the 2012 and 2013 NFL drafts.

By all accounts, these are the stiffest NFL penalties ever assessed an NFL team.   The suspension of Head Coach Sean Payton is a first in NFL history.  No coach has even been suspended for even one game.  Gregg Williams who was suspended indefinitely will receive a review of his suspension at the conclusion of the 2012 NFL season.  All of these penalties are specific to the organization and management of the NFL Club.  The other shoe which will surely drop soon is player penalties and suspensions. 

John Vilma will certainly be one of the players receiving significant penalties.  Vilma, the Saints defensive captain, offered $10,000 to any player who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010.  Similar bounties were placed on quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Kurt Warner.  The front office and coaching staff were informed by the NFL to stop the bounty program on several occasions as early as the 2010 season and yet the program continued. 

Commissioner Goodell stated in his report, "We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game.  We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities.  No one is above the game or the rules that govern it.  Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised."

Goodell further stated, "A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious.  When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game."

I believe Roger Goodell's stern and forceful action in penalizing the team, management and coaches was appropriate.  Severe for sure but I really believe the penalties are in the best interest of the game.  Most folks have always respected the NFL for maintaining higher standards than other professional sports.  Significantly better than Major League Baseball and much stronger than the NBA.  The penalties crush the Saints and will damage them significantly for at least two-three years going forward.  I believe as the commissioner stated, these actions by the Saints and their coaches were egregious.   They should be severely punished.

The penalties coming to the players who were involved will seal the deal.  Look for fines and game suspensions.  The message the commissioner is sending is a clear one.  Bounties in the NFL will disappear and the game that has come to be the favorite of most Americans will continue forward in a positive light.  Congratulations to Roger Goodell for doing the hard but right thing.      

They Really Are Mile High Tonight In Denver, Welcome Peyton!

topics.indystar.com

nflpassers.com

Peyton Manning, four-time MVP quarterback and future hall of famer, made it official today selecting the Denver Broncos as his new team.  Manning, far and away the greatest free agent of all time in the NFL, chose the Broncos over Tennessee and San Francisco ending what has been two weeks of great NFL suspense.  Manning's arrival in The Mile High City makes the Broncos an immediate threat not only to repeat as AFC West Champions but to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. 

"Music to my ears", was Willis McGahee's response when told of Manning's selection of Denver.  McGahee will give Manning the running back that he hasn't had in Indianapolis for years.  All of a sudden, Denver will have a balanced offensive attack.  Von Miller, Denver's defensive star said, "I love Tim Tebow on and off the field; he is a great teammate, but we can learn a lot more from Peyton Manning because he's been to Super Bowls, he's a four-time MVP."  One has to suspect that even the Tebow faithful in Denver will embrace Manning's arrival.

Word has it that Tim Tebow will be shopped immediately.  One has to believe that either Jacksonville or Miami will make a pitch to grab him just for ticket sales alone.  Tebow's value will only bring Denver a third or fourth round draft pick at best if a team decides to trade for him.  Otherwise, Tebow will be released from Denver. 

The signing of Manning not only makes the offense more balanced and dangerous but it immediately makes a huge difference for the Denver defensive unit.  The defense will not need to be on the field as much with Manning controlling the ball and eating the clock every Sunday.  The defense will be able to take greater risks with their pass rush and secondary coverage knowing that their offense will be able to score points.  Manning's signing changes all the dynamics of this team.

The real question will be how long it will take Manning to take the Broncos back to the Super Bowl.  Can he do it in his first year?  Will it take two years?  John Elway, Denver's President and former hall of fame quarterback, will do his best to put all the pieces together to make a run in Manning's first year.  Two of those pieces might include Manning's long-time center at Indianapolis, Jeff Saturday.  The other piece might be one of his favorite receivers, Dallas Clark.  The addition of these two players would add immediately to Manning's comfort level.

The fans of the Broncos must be flying high as they envision what could be a multiple year run at the Super Bowl.  Tebow will be fondly remembered for his exciting 2011 season and playoff run.  The fans of The Mile High City should be a mile high tonight.       

Spring Practice - College Top Twenty-Five

forbes.com

Spring Practice has commenced on the gridiron across the nation and it is time to weigh-in on this year's Top 25 teams.  It's early but you have to start somewhere.  Here's my picks going into Spring Practice.

25.       Utah - Will start making noises in the Pac 12.

24.       Boise State - No Kellen but Boise State             won't last long in the two digits.

23.       Nebraska - Taylor Martinez will rebound in 2012.

22.       TCU - Welcome to the Big 12, look for Casey Pachall to have a big year.

21.       Kansas State - Look for KState to pick-up where they left off in 2011.

20.       Stanford - No Andrew Luck but Barry Sanders Jr. joins the Cardinals.

19.       Michigan State - Look for the Spartans to drop Boise State in opener.

18.       Oklahoma State - Mike Gundy's team will be for real once again.

17.       Florida - Not quite ready for prime time but only a year away.

16.       Texas - Like Florida, not quite there but improving rapidly.

15.       Clemson - Which Tigers will show up, early season or end of season.

14.       Virginia Tech - Beamer's offense must catch up with the defense.

13.       West Virginia - Welcome to the Big 12 - Hope all that money will be worth it.

12.       Florida State - Seminoles eliminate penalties and they will find success in the ACC.

11.       Arkansas - Great team in toughest division of SEC, play both Alabama and LSU at home.

10.       Michigan - The team "UP NORTH" returns to the Top Ten; will lose to Ohio State.

9.         South Carolina - Spurrier's year to challenge Alabama and LSU. 

8.         Wisconsin - Montee Ball will challenge for the Heisman but come up short          

                                against the Buckeyes. 

7.         Oregon - The Ducks's offense will once again prevail until they face the Trojans.

6.         Georgia - Look for Georgia to rule the SEC East.

5.         Ohio State - Braxton Miller and Urban Meyer will make everyone forget about the sanctions.

4.         Oklahoma - Landry Jones will have a big year and the Sooners will contend for the

                                Championship.

3.         Alabama - The wait for the rematch is already on; The Crimson Tide reloads.

2.         LSU - Already counting the days to the rematch; LSU's defense only gets better.

1.         USC - Matt Barkley didn't stay to come in second; the Trojans roar back off probation. 

Peyton Manning Bids Farewell To Indianapolis - What A Class Act!

tmz.com

newsday.com

As I watched Peyton Manning and Robert Irsay of the Indianapolis Colts today deliver the news to the sporting world of Peyton's departure, I was reminded of how responsible, caring, and distinguished leaders set themselves apart from others.  Every professional athlete, manager, coach, general manager and owner would benefit from watching these two gentlemen address the news media and fans of their decision.  Both handled themselves with distinction and class.

Emotional for both men but not one negative shot taken at each other, the team, the league or the city of Indianapolis.  It was Communication 101 brilliantly performed and delivered.  It was clear that they cared for each other, their team and their city.  It was clear that it was a business decision that was very difficult for both of them.  Their delivery of the decision made you feel bad for each of them as you knew it was difficult for both men.

So many times we have witnessed bitter disputes between players and owners that make you want to pick sides and point blame.  Today's decision didn't have that type of impact on you.  You felt each man's pain and could hardly blame the Colts for choosing to move forward in a different direction.  You didn't feel embittered because Peyton will be wearing another team's colors this coming season.  How unusual is that feeling? 

At the same time, everyone knew that this day was coming when Peyton Manning would no longer be wearing the horseshoe of Indianapolis.  Still, it was difficult to fathom as you listened to the words of both Manning and Irsay.  Peyton Manning..no longer a Colt.  Wow!  Doesn't seem right, doesn't seem fair.  The new reality is that Peyton will be playing in a new NFL city very soon. 

No news yet on what city that will be.  The speculation will run rampant for days, weeks on end until all of the negotiations, visits and decisions are made.  Is Manning healthy?  This will be the million dollar question that not only the various teams bidding for his services will want answers to but also to the millions of fans who just want to see Manning play again. 

Every night on Sports Center and all the talk radio sports shows will have their daily dose of Manning updates.  The analysis of what teams would benefit from having Manning as their quarterback.  What teams would contend for the playoffs and Super Bowl right away if Manning became their quarterback.  What teams would be best for Manning's skills and leadership.  The Manning questions will be comparable to the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. 

The process should be a good one and lots of fun during this off-season of no football.  The one thing we will be able to count on during the entire process is that Peyton Manning will handle himself as the leader he is.  Showing class, dignity and professionalism.  Whichever NFL city and team signs him, they will be all the better for it.    

Ryan Braun, Most Valuable Prevaricator

washingtonpost.com

Allow me to join all those that rejoiced this last week when Major League Baseball's MVP from last season, Ryan Braun, won his case and had his 50 game suspension overturned.   Major League Baseball's arbitrator ruled for the first time in a player's favor in the appeal process of a positive drug test.  Braun's drug test showed an elevated level of testosterone in his system.  Not only was it elevated significantly but it was of a synthetic nature meaning that Braun's body did not produce it.  Now that the MVP won his appeals process, Braun spoke out this week and earned the Most Valuable Prevaricator award too.

Braun and his attorneys chose to fight their appeal on the basis that there was a breach in the chain of control of the specimen.  They did not dispute the specimen itself.  It appears that they won their appeal on this technicality.  His appeal victory was not enough.  Braun spoke publicly to deny that he ever used any performance-enhancing drug and then without skipping a beat, Braun chose to lay the blame on Dino Laurenzi Jr., the collector of his sample. 

Our MVP's statement, "There were a lot of things that we learned about the collector, about the collection process, about the way the entire thing works, that made us very concerned and very suspicious about what could have actually happened, " 

The mendacity of Ryan Braun is of MVP proportions.  One has to pause for a moment to consider the credibility of a Major League Baseball player versus a Director of Rehabilitation Services with an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin with Master Degrees earned at the University of North Carolina and Loyola University of Chicago.  Who should we believe?  We've had some past experience with the credibility of Major League Baseball players such as Roger Clemons, Bobby Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez to name just a few. 

Once again, one has to ask the obvious question of what benefit did a collector of specimens have to gain by tampering with the specimens?  Nothing.  What did Ryan Braun have to gain?  Everything.  Even the vast majority of those playing in the game question the overturn of the decision.  Some players are actually worried about the integrity of the game.  That's a novel thought, isn't it.  Where has that attitude been the last 15 years?

I suspect that we have not heard the end of the Ryan Braun matter.  Not just the smattering of disenchanted fans he will face all season but maybe even in the courtroom if Dino Laurenzi Jr. decides that his reputation is every bit as important as Braun's.  By all accounts, the specimens arrived in pristine condition with the tamper-free seals and identification numbers intact.  We all know or have had experiences ourselves of the drug testing that takes place today.  Even many of the lowest paying jobs in America require drug testing.  My guess is that Major League Baseball standards for collections reach far beyond the strip-mall collection agencies that exist in every city in America. 

I can't believe Ryan Braun's story.  I gave up on Major League Baseball years ago and for me, Braun joins the ranks of his fellow performance-enhancing drug users who have selfishly placed themselves above the integrity of the game.  Braun took it one step further by placing the blame on someone who was just doing their job and doing it the way he was asked to.