The NFL: Trouble In Paradise

U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander, U.S. Central Command, poses for a photo with NFL Hall of Famers Lynn Swann, Roger Craig, John Elway, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during Super Bowl XLIII, Feb. 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The National Football League occupies the loftiest penthouse in North American sports, basking in high revenues and TV ratings.  They like to keep themselves in the news beyond the football season with the draft in the spring, team practices (also known as "Organized Team Activities") in the early summer, and training camps in mid-July.  They also tinker with the rules, create prime time specials on NFL Network showcasing its 2014 schedule, and let others ruminate about whether the league will ever expand to London or Los Angeles.

Unfortunately for the NFL and its commissioner Roger Goodell, controversy is always in season on and off the field, threatening its immediate and long-term future. 

• Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens has been served with a two-game suspension from the NFL for alleged domestic abuse.  That's right.  Two games.  That should go over real well with the female fans the league has been trying to court, other than the patronizing display of pink this and that every October to promote breast cancer "awareness".
• Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was arrested for driving under the influence.  Players have been fined and suspended for similar violations under the league's drug policy.  NFL owners?  Please.  Goodell's job status depends on those people.
• The continuing controversy over the Washington Redskins' nickname.  The more pressure there is to change it to something less offensive, the more Goodell and team owner Dan Snyder push back against it, the longer the name continues to exist.
• The presence of Michael Sam, the first openly-gay player in NFL history.  So far, Sam has been warmly welcomed by the St. Louis Rams.  Others, such as former Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, really step into it when they publicly consider Sam a "distraction".
• The NFL settled with some of its former players for an increase in compensation for diseases that result from head injuries.  Some of the biggest stars who used to play the game, you may (or may not) be surprised to learn, now have symptoms of dementia.
• Some NFL cheerleaders are suing their teams for failing to pay them so much as a living wage.
• Parents are steering their kids into other sports as concern about concussions in football mount.  Even Brett Favre, who was knocked around a few times during his career, has said he would not let his kids play the game.

There have been predictions of the eventual demise of the National Football League, or at least the diminishing of it.  While such talk clearly is as exaggerated as premature reports of Mark Twain's death, the signs are troubling.  Even though the league is raking in billions through sold-out stadiums and new TV contracts, they are threatening to kill the golden goose to the point where only the wealthy can afford to attend games (if that's not happening already) and schedules are expanded, risking life-threatening injuries to its players.

But who cares about all that?  Who gives a flying pig about wife beaters, drug cheaters, oversensitive crybabies, and old-timers who can't remember what they had for breakfast?  Bring on the beer, the nachos and the big screen, man!  It's time for the GAME!

At least that's what the NFL hopes you'd want.  Selective amnesia.