It was a busy week on the NFL's police blotter. First, Carolina guard D'Anthony Batiste was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Then, Las Vegas police recommended that Tennessee cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones be charged with felony coercion and misdemeanor battery for his role in a shooting that left a man paralyzed. Then, Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment and domestic violence.
Is it any wonder that Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to enact a tougher player-conduct policy?
Unofficially, there were at least 60 incidents last year in which NFL players or coaches were accused of running afoul of the law. This year, there already have been at least 17 such incidents, which nearly doubles the reported total for the same period last year.
Scary numbers, indeed. But the inconvenient truth could be that player conduct today is no worse than it was one, two or three decades ago. In fact, Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who played 10 seasons in the league as a defensive back in the 1980s and 1990s, said there were “probably more” incidents in the past. But you wouldn't know that from reading message boards and talking to casual fans.
Asked why current players are being viewed more harshly, Edwards said: “Dun-nuh-nuh . . . da-nuh-nuh.”
He was repeating ESPN's SportsCenter theme song.
“That's why,” he continued. “It's just the way of the world.”
The advent of the Internet and the proliferation of media outlets have resulted in greater attention being paid to the NFL and other sports. With that attention has come increased scrutiny.
In other decades, the coverage was regional. Oftentimes, the only way someone in San Francisco knew that a player in Miami had been arrested is if someone from that city told him. Also, there used to be a cozier relationship between local law enforcement and teams.
One coach from a Super Bowl-winning team in the 1990s told me that it wasn't uncommon for his players to be stopped for DUI. However, he said, police officers would drive the players home or trail them instead of arresting them. That's less likely to happen because of the increased scrutiny.
I tend to believe that the NFL is acting more to protect its image (and the billions of dollars it brings in) than its integrity. If the frequency of incidents actually is no greater now than it was two or three decades ago, as Edwards claims, then the only thing that's changed is the rate at which the transgressions are reported.
History has showed us that pro sports leagues generally react when owners realize there's an imminent threat to their pocket books. Major League Baseball didn't seriously address performance-enhancing drugs until Congress came calling, and NBA Commissioner David Stern didn't institute a dress code for his players because he favors Armani over adidas. There was a belief among some critics that the league had become too hip-hop, and that baggy jeans and T-shirts ultimately could be a tougher sell to advertisers.
The NFL didn't become the most successful pro sports league in America because its run by dopes. They saw a problem with the increased number of reported incidents and decided to be proactive and not wait for television networks and sponsors to come calling with their complaints. Which is a good thing.
As Edwards said: “I think it's great. I really do. It puts the pedal to the metal and it makes guys understand that when you come into this league, you're responsible. And you better act that way. And if you don't, you're going to embarrass yourself, you're going to embarrass your parents, and you're going to embarrass the National Football League.”
True enough. But to act as if this generation of players is out of control when compared with past generations is unfair. And sad.
Used Carr
Quarterback David Carr, who was released by Houston last week after five seasons of being a human tackling dummy for the losing Texans, will make his first visits in a few days when he travels to Seattle and Carolina. Oakland, Cleveland and Miami also are interested in a veteran signal-caller, but none has plans to bring in Carr – at this point.
Carr started each of his five seasons with the Texans after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2002, but he's looking for the right fit more than a starting job. A source close to him said he's content to be a backup the next year or two if he sees an opportunity to be a starter for a Super Bowl-caliber team down the line. One thing that won't be an overriding issue with him: money. He took home $35 million from the Texans.
Faneca upset
There continues to be a perception that Steelers Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca is skipping the team's voluntary workouts because he's upset the club didn't go in-house to replace Bill Cowher. But people close to Faneca said there's no truth to the rumor.
Instead, Faneca's big gripe is his contract. He's in the final year of his deal and wants to be paid in the same neighborhood as Eric Steinbach, Steve Hutchinson and Kris Dielman, guards who in the last two offseasons signed free-agent deals that average between $6 million and $7 million a year. Faneca is scheduled to make $4.375 million this season in salary and bonus.
The Steelers have had preliminary talks with Faneca's agent, Rick Smith, but the sides are miles apart in their thinking.
Jim Trotter: (619) 293-1859; jim.trotter@uniontrib.com
