“Please Don’t Do That!”

Before we get started I would just like to say, everyone makes mistakes.  As humans we have all made mistakes in the past and we hope we learn and grow for the future.  With that being written, I believe the NFL Player's Association needs to add “Etiquette in the NFL” under their (1) Policies and (2) Personal Conduct Policy portion for rules to follow. The “Etiquette in the NFL” policy would be defined as “Please don’t do that!”

Jenn Sterger

Here are two (2) things that changed the lives of NFL staff members and players in a situation of “Please don’t do that!”

1)    Never send lewd or obscene emails or text message to coworkers or colleagues.  In October of 2010, the media scolded QB, Brett Favre for allegedly sending sexually explicit photos of himself to a female journalist named Jenn Sterger in 2008 while he played with the New York Jets, according to the Huffington Post.com.  Favre was also reported as sending more obscene photos to several other women during the same time period.  

Jets QB - Brett Favre

At the time of the investigation, Favre could have faced a suspension by the league.  The Huffington Post reported, “If the NFL finds that Favre violated its personal conduct policy, Favre could be fined or even suspended. The league's policy allows it to punish a wide range of behavior, even that which is not illegal.”  Facing a possible suspension, Favre finally decided to call it quits after 20 years and retired at the end of the 2010 season, according to ESPN.com.

2)    Never leave a paper trail of evidence that leads directly back where you can lose your job.  In March of 2012, the NFL launched an all out investigation of the New Orleans Saints organization titled, “The Bounty Scandal”.  According to Yahoo Sports.com, the Saints were running an illegal pay for play program where management (coaches and upper management) were involved in paying players to hurt players on other teams.

Lommis, Williams, Payton (left to right)

Depending on what articles you’ve read or who you’ve listened to, the pay for play system has been going on for years and it will continue to go on.  Some may look and say NFL players get paid millions to collide into each all the time.  What’s the difference?  The difference here is the Saints actually have information in emails and other formats of what players they would hurt, according to information found by the NFL.  Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Saints head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012-2013 season without pay.  The Saints General Manager, Mickey Loomis, was suspended for 8 games of the 2012-2013 season.  Several players were suspended for different lengths of time and also lost wages.  The most significant was defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams.  Williams was suspended indefinitely.

Goodell and Tagliabue (left to right)

The cases are still ongoing and being heard by former Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue.  According to ESPN.com, Commissioner Tagliabue stated the cases against the players should be vacated.  He felt the Bounty program was endorsed by management and is the responsibility of management (coaches and upper management) and the players should not be punished. 

The final outcome of the Bounty Scandal remains to be seen and rest in the hands of current Commissioner Goodell.

These issues are unprofessional.  Actually, these are things that should not take place in any professional environment not just football.  Some people continue to send these types of messages on other social sites such as Facebook and Twitter and wonder why they lose their jobs or cannot find work. 

Whether it is the football field or the workplace, my advice to all would be “Please don’t do that!”