NFL offseason thread

My post was more about how Goodell will force Haslam out as owner.

 

I think Goodell has to be crapping in his pants over the Aaron Hernandez case.

The NFL's image is worth billions of dollars and if public perception becomes that the league is a bunch of killers and street thugs, that image is going to lose value. I think that's why Goodell has taken such a hard line on all sorts of things since he became commissioner. The NFL has a lot at stake.

 

I think we'd all agree that one acceptable solution to the NFL's rising tide of off-season violence is for the players to close the loop and do the violence unto each other, as 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks did to nosetackle Lamar Divens when he smashed him three times in the head with a beer bottle and then punched him in the face.

Felony warrant initially signed, now prosecutors are reconsidering.

The unidentified witness said Brooks was too intoxicated to drive home, so Divens drove. When they got to Brooks' house about 2 a.m. on June 8, Brooks asked for his keys. Divens pretended to chuck them onto the grass and then started to hand them to him.

Brooks then allegedly clocked Divens in the head with a beer bottle. Brooks allegedly began cursing and then struck him in the head again. Brooks allegedly asked Divens, "Do I need to get my (expletive deleted) gun?" and struck him again. Prosecutors also allege in the warrant that Brooks punched Divens.

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_23588549/49ers-linebacker-ahmad-brooks-assault-charge-weighed

 

And in happier news ... Nnamdi Asomugha marries Kerry Washington. The guy is rich, educated, tremendously charitable, and now he lands one of the hottest women in Hollywood. It hardly even matters that he can't play football anymore.

http://blog.sfgate.com/dwiegand/2013/07/03/tv-kerry-washington-marries-niners-nnamdi-asomugha/

 

"[T]he hottest woman on TV," wrote the newspaper blogger in a professional manner.

 

Is it OK if we discuss the ongoing case here without the daily cast of The View self-servingly debating some social issue of their whim?

Hernandez reportedly offered to take more drug tests.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/09/hernandez-offered-to-take-extra-drug-tests/

He also allegedly wrote this letter.

“Any information I volunteer to you about my past will be looked at with great skepticism as I am trying to get drafted as high as possible by a NFL team,” (Hernandez's) letter states. “As such, I thought that the best way to answer your questions and your concerns was to make a very simple proposition. If you draft me as a member of the New England Patriots, I will willfully submit to a bi-weekly drug test throughout my rookie season (8 drug tests during the 2010 regular season). In addition, I will tie any guaranteed portion of my 2010 compensation to these drug tests and reimburse the team a pro-rata amount for any failed drug test. My agents have explained that a direct forfeiture provision in my contract along these lines would violate the CBA rules. However, I have instructed them to be creative in finding a contract structure that would work or in the worst case scenario, I would donate the pro-rata portion of my guaranteed money to the team’s choice of charities. My point is simple – if I fail a drug test, I do not deserve that portion of the money.

“I realize that this offer is somewhat unorthodox, but it is also the only way I could think of to let you know how serious I am about reaching my potential in the NFL.”

 

So what does the NFL do if Hernandez is acquitted? Or pleas to a lesser charge? Long suspension? No suspension if he gets acquitted? It's a public relations hit regardless, but how do Goodell and company react?

 

If any of the above happen they do nothing until somebody signs him.

 

The NFL suspended Ben Roethlisberger for four games when no charges were filed, so you would think Hernandez would be out a good bit longer than that. Also, he doesn't have a job right now, which changes things.

 

Which could be a while. Aside from the public relations hit, the team would also have to know a long suspension is coming.

 

If he gets acquitted, all 32 NFL teams should try to sign his attorney, not him.

 

Michael Vick is a convicted violent felon and he's playing. If you can play, you will play.