As I write this on January 18, 2016, I am reminded that exactly one year ago today the New England Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts by a 45-7 score in the AFC Championship. Prior to the start of the game and during the game, the Colts accused the Patriots of underinflating the footballs. Tom Brady was at one point suspended for four games to start this season, only to have the punishment upheld twice on appeal and then have it eventually rescinded because a judge found that there was an absence of “fairness and due process”.
“Deflategate” became the center of fans’ attention and media controversy for months on end. Nothing similar has caused a stir this year, but that doesn’t mean the NFL has been without its share of on and off-field problems. It’s just that the microscope has not been as focused on team and player conduct. The Cincinnati-Pittsburgh debacle during the Wild Card weekend may have changed that as rule violation after rule violation occurred. Lest you think this has been a very quiet year for the NFL as far as conduct is concerned, let me give you some interesting facts:
There have been 16 players suspended this year for a total of 49 games. The common infractions were labeled as “violation of league’s personal conduct policy”, but they also included punching and breaking the jaw of a teammate, domestic violence, vehicular assault, poking an eye, helmet-to-helmet contact, and repeated violations of safety-related playing rules. Vontaze Burfict of the Cincinnati Bengals was recently accused of the latter and was suspended for three games next season. He was certainly no angel in the Pittsburgh game.
Violations of the NFL drug policy are considered separate from the previous infractions. That is a separate category. Substance infractions fall under two headings – 1) those that improve performance; 2) those that are for recreational use.
Fifty-three players were suspended for these infractions this year accounting for 189 games. Not included in that number are the four players who were suspended for the entire season and two who are listed as “indefinite suspensions”.
And, by the way, two coaches were suspended for 1) punching a teenager and 2) an undisclosed violation. In addition, the league suspended a general manager for texting his personnel during a game, two equipment handlers, and an official for his failure to catch an 18-second mistake on the clock.
That is a total of 108 individuals associated with the NFL who required severe discipline by the league. It is a shame we do not hear more about the exemplary players who do a great deal for their community and various charities. Those players do not seek out the headlines, nor do their stories garner much attention. But then there are those who proclaim that they “are not role models”. I hope young people take those athletes at their word. Because, obviously, too many of them are not.
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- I’m sure that Eagles fans saw “déjà vu all over again” as Yogi used to say, when they watched the horrible clock management by Andy Reid on Saturday night when the Chiefs lost to the Patriots. If you watched the end of each half, I’m sure you were appalled at the total ineptness to control the clock in obvious scoring situations. That is, unless you remember how the Eagles used to do it.
- I invite you to read Greg Joyce’s highly entertaining piece in the Express-Times on former Liberty player Greg Noack, whose basketball season at Monmouth was curtailed due to concussions. He and some teammates, known as the Monmouth Bench Mob, have become nationally known for their sideline antics. It’s a great story. Click here to read it.
- The Eagles hired Doug Pederson on Monday to be their new head coach. He was a career backup quarterback (3-14 in 17 games). As the offensive coordinator in Kansas City, he did not call the plays. His head coaching experience was in high school with the Calvary Baptist Academy. Keep your fingers crossed!
- All the home teams won in the NFL this past weekend. I hope you got to see the end of the Packers and Cardinals overtime game. Just amazing!!
- It’s the first match-up of the season Saturday when the Lafayette men play Lehigh in Patriot League basketball. If you are snowed in (which might be the case), give the game a look. It’s LIVE on RCN at 2:00pm.
NFL PICKS LAST WEEK – 10-6; OVERALL 160-96 (63%)
NFL PICKS (WILD CARD) – 3-1
NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS – 3-1; PLAYOFFS (6-2)
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PICKS
NEW ENGLAND
CAROLINA
