Bounty Players Reinstated

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma.

Many people felt that Roger Goodell's suspensions of LB Jonathan Vilma, LB Scott Fujita, DE Will Smith, and DL Anthony Hargrove were very harsh. Not only did the courts think it was too harsh, they believe he didn't have sufficient evidence to suspend them at all. Now reinstated, Vilma and Smith joins the New Orleans Saints for their Week 1 matchup at the Mercedes Benz Superdome tomorrow against the Washington Redskins. It is believed that Vilma is dealing with an injury, so he'll most likely sit out tomorrow's action. It remains to be seen if Smith will get limited action or any at all after not practicing or playing in any game since last season.

Fujita is now with the Cleveland Browns and it isn't clear if he will receive any playing time in their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Hargrove was released by the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago, and the Packers have not said if they will sign him back now that he is reinstated. The players have maintained their innocence in regards to being a part of a bounty program with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams was suspended indefinitely for his role and he may never get a coaching job again.

Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire year for not putting an end to the program. It will be interesting to see if Payton goes through the courts to have his suspension overturned as well. Payton went through the appeals process, with the arbitrator being Goodell himself. Goodell quickly upheld Payton's suspension. The appeals process through the courts for Vilma and the other three players was a very long process. However, as evidenced by Vilma's tweet following the verdict, the players accomplished what they set out to do.

This now puts Goodell in a very tough spot, but it's something he definitely needed. Goodell has been out of control with his punishment of players for various offenses. Instead of running the league and looking out for its best interests, he seems to be more interested in being a stern and strict district attorney. It is absurd that Goodell is able to hand down punishment and the appeals process has to go through him also. What would Goodell hear or see that would make him change his mind in an appeal?

For this, the players and teams can blame themselves for this level of dictatorship. They agreed to all of the stipulations regarding power for Goodell. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers were against the level of power Goodell assumed under the new collective bargaining agreement. LB James Harrison, who has been a critic of Goodell in the past, will have a field day with the news. 

Goodell should re-think his role as the commissioner of the National Football League. He is not a principal. He is dealing with grown men but treating them as if they were 11-year olds. Granted, some players do need to be treated that way considering they can't figure out how to stay out of trouble off the field. It is his job to make sure the game is taking advantage of every opportunity to expand the game in every way possible. He is not a police officer, therefore he should not act like one.

Even though David Stern hasn't necessarily done a fair job in his near 30 year run as NBA commissioner, Goodell ought to look at how he runs the league. The same lesson would be learned if he took a look at how Bud Selig disciplines his players in Major League Baseball. When it comes to being a disciplinarian, his job should not be to send a message. He should be thinking about punishing players equal to the punishment's value. Although highly unlikely, Goodell could be jettisoned if he keeps acting this way.