by Hamlet Pericles

Created on: October 04, 2007   Last Updated: July 12, 2008

Absolutely not! The NFL should not add cruelty to animals to their personal conduct policy. Why would the NFL do such a thing? Didn't the NFL revise their policy before the 2007 football season started? Yes. When commissioner Roger Goodell unveiled the new policy, all of the players, coaches and teams were put on notice. They understood if they did anything awful (or even criminal) that would embarrass or tarnish the NFL's reputation, then they will be punished.

The revised personal conduct policy, in regards to players, is strict (it has a pit bull's bite to it) and has punished players and will continue to do so if need be. Even before the new policy was rendered, the NFL disciplined players for their off the field activities.

In 2004, under the old policy, then commissioner Paul Tagliabue suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman for three games for crashing his car into a car carrying his wife and young son; he was also fined.

In the 2006 football season, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry was suspended by Goodell for two games for violating the substance abuse policies; he was also fined.

Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams is infamous for violating the drug policy and has not played an entire season in the last two years. Williams was suspended for flunking various drug tests due to smoking marijuana. He is currently seeking reinstatement. The list of disciplined players does not stop there, there are many more.

Under the revised conduct policy, misbehaved players will suffer a great deal, especially monetarily. The new policy is harsh and will give players a chance to think about conducting themselves badly (or unlawfully) before they do whatever act is deemed inappropriate. In fact, the new policy will allow players to think for an extensive period of time as they sit out on suspension.

For example, Tennessee Titans corner Adam "Pacman" Jones was suspended the entire 2007 season for his constant off the field troubles. Jones has not been convicted of any crime since his inception into the NFL in 2005, but his constant run-ins with the law are plentiful, including an involved shooting at a Las Vegas strip club earlier in the year.

Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons superstar quarterback, was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for his involvement with dog fighting. His problem is incredibly severe because he has to deal with a prison sentence (that may send him to federal prison for over a year or more) after pleading guilty

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>