Goodell: My House, My Rules

New commissioner Roger Goodell has already left an imprint on the NFL — mainly in the form of a father's backhand across the back of the head of some of his problem children.

Great.

Seriously, no sarcasm, no punch line coming. Just about every movement Goodell has initiated since taking over has been good for the game, especially his policy regarding off-field conduct. As Pacman Jones, Chris Henry, and Tank Johnson prepare to start out the season on suspension, don't think the rest of the players haven't noticed.

Goodell has every right to suspend these players even without any convictions. Employees damaging the company's reputation merit discipline. Now the abilities to get 10 sacks a season, to take a punt to the house have been removed for the list of abilities that render a worker immune from penalties for such behavior. That list that is already shorter than Danny DeVito in less glamorous professions.

And the outcry against his brash, unilateral, harsh actions? (Cue crickets chirping.) Yeah, I don't hear anything either. Granted, most in the league know that such backlash would be heavily frowned upon if not fineable, but coaches, other players, even the players union have ranged from supportive to silent. And the NFL (especially players) doesn't just keep its mouth shut that well, making you wonder how many people in the game were already getting tired of police blotters reading like the Bengals' roll call.

It all comes down to accountability. In the past, players simply weren't being held responsible for their actions. They can afford the best lawyers. They could put stuff off on their buddies from their old hood. They could end up with probation or a fine while plea bargaining what once was a felony, which comes somewhere between saying "stop that" and "don't make me pull over" on the discipline meter.

Now, regardless of the courts or the uselessness of fining a millionaire, players can be hit where it hurts. If they don't learn from mistakes and continue to damage their team's, their league's, and their own reputations, Poppa Goodell can rap them with a broomstick and send them to time out. Grounded. No video games, either. They can watch TV — to see their teammates have all the fun on Sundays while brooding over their multi-million dollar financial hit. No more stern warnings. No more buying your way out. See you next year ... if you apologize don't mess it up further.

Every league in the country should adopt similar policies (NBA, looking at you). The whole Tom Osborne philosophy — football is the only thing that can keep some of these problem children out of trouble, so let them play regardless of their actions and hope they mature — simply doesn't work. Ask Lawrence Phillips (among others).

Players, whatever background they come from, need to learn to grow up and be men. That's tough in an environment where they are paid ungodly sums and worshiped by entire cities, with all but the most egregious sins forgiven as long as they produce. Players need to take responsibility for what they do, and accept punishment and learn from mistakes. They need to recognize it as a chance to grow as citizens, rather than constantly act out of a sense of entitlement.

Tank Johnson has been a great example, impressing Goodell in his meeting with him, assuming responsibility for what he did, and taking positive steps towards growing as a man. And so he has been projected to receive a suspension in the neighborhood of four games, rather than full- and half-season suspensions burdening Pacman or Henry.

Pacman, conversely, reportedly did not impress in a similar meeting. So the road will be tougher for him. The year-long suspension will give him time think, and hopefully take responsibility, or else it would be even longer before he straps on any shoulder pads in Goodell's house. And when he does, he will come out of it not just a better representative for the league, but a better man.

The NFL, meanwhile, will churn on without him. He should realize that the league has truckloads of talent, and frankly, doesn't need him nearly as much as he needs it. He should recognize that he is accountable for friends that lead him into trouble. Who's in the driver's seat in a relationship when Pacman has all the money, fame, and everything to loose? His buddies from the 'hood, living the high life on his dime and feeling invincible because of it? Come on.

Hopefully, Pacman and other players learn from Goodell how to be a better daddy themselves. Or else the children will be running their households/careers. Straight into the ground.

Other Moves

Goodell has been active on a number of other fronts early in his tenure as his vision for the NFL begins to take shape. Here are some of the other ideas he has put out there:

Whistle-Blower System For Concussions

Another winner. No-brainer. Which is ironically what we could call a player rushed back too fast after concussion. Players are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever. There is also more money on the line providing a team incentive to keep its best players on the field. But anyone who can argue that a player's safety is less important than competitive concerns needs to have themselves checked for recent head trauma themselves. Granted, players take risks to their safety every game. But when we start talking about preventable brain damage, the word safety takes on a whole new meaning.

Extra Regular Season Games

Not as sold on this one. For a young guy, I tend to be old-fashioned and conservative when you start messing with things like the number of teams in the playoffs and number of games in a season. A seventh team in the playoffs (kicked around in the past) would water down the regular season, and an extra game would, too. And the argument that cutting two preseason games (which alone I am fine with) would offset the stress/injury risk of an extra game is weak. I ask what percentage of those two games starters were playing in anyway? But they will be playing in that 17th game.

Another problem would be an uneven home-away schedule. Unless...

Consistently Playing Regular Season Games Overseas

Intriguing. It would balance the home-road balance in a 17 game schedule. Goodell, like Bud Selig in baseball and David Stern in basketball, wants to make his American game global, only on an even vaster scale. But I am still not thrilled on the idea.

Preseason games overseas are great. I love getting this amazing sport in front of a global audience. But this is America's game, and because of the high demand and already limited supply driving up the market price of tickets, its already tough enough for average Americans to get to a game. That's why only with a 17th game would I be tolerant of this, so that tickets aren't taken away from the fans in the teams' cities. Even in that case, it would be like buying a case of Natural Light; a good choice economically, but isn't the easiest to swallow or stomach.

Overseas Super Bowl

Over the line. This is the one sporting event that truly unites America, drawing in even the most casual sports fan, for four short hours in the winter. A Super Bowl in another country would feel as out of place as the Winter Olympics in Bermuda, and the premise would be as nauseating as watching Oakland's offense last year. Despite being abysmal last year, the premier sporting event in this country will continue to bring us together. Keep it here.

Altering the Draft

Anyone who has any problem with shortening the first round time allotment per pick from 15 to 10 minutes has never sat through the first round. These teams have been evaluating and rating these players for months. They don't need a quarter of an hour to figure out their second choice after the team before nabbed their first.

As for moving the draft to prime time on, say, Friday night, it sounds like a good idea. I'd watch it. But Friday night is a tough spot in TV land. People (i.e. women who don't care with husbands that do) aren't necessarily going to stay in just for the draft. But a lazy Saturday afternoon has always been an appealing option. Plus, shortened rounds could allow a later start on Saturday, allowing lazy people on the West Coast (i.e. me) to catch it from the beginning.

Overall, Goodell has a lot of great ideas for the NFL, and his emphasis on integrity is refreshing. It not only improves the image of the league and sets a good example for those who follow it, but it also aides its players by giving them incentives to mature. And while Goodell's vision of taking the game global seems to grate against a lot of our instincts as a mistake, that's usually what separates a vision from mere progress.

Of course, that is also what separates a setback from a train wreck. Why tinker too much with a model that is already dominating the professional sports landscape?