Opinion: In The NFL, The Moral High Ground Doesn't Exist -

In the ever-spinning athletic drama known as the NFL, the league’s off-field issues take centerstage while quality football is playing in the background.

In the NFL, a week doesn’t pass without some semblance of controversy or conflict that hovers above the league. With thirty-two owners and fifteen-hundred players and hundreds of coaches, and administrative personnel, not one dull moment exists. Yet, when the off-field nonsense outweighs and overshadows the action between the lines, you need to look at the individuals involve and question their motives.

Dan Snyder

Regardless of what public opinion is surrounding the Commanders’ owner, start with the truth. First, Snyder, like every owner is rich, boasting a net worth of approximately five billion dollars. Next, anyone who knows him and speaks of him understands his ability to dig his heels in and not budge. The Commanders sported another nickname for decades. Snyder finally relented and jettisoned the former name. Lastly, unlike most owners, Snyder possesses a keen understanding of all forms of media, from giving preferential treatment to punishing others, Snyder plays to win. This week, an ESPN report surfaced that Snyder allegedly hired private investigators to find negative information on his fellow owners. Snyder denied the claims. However, for an owner that sued other media outlets for defamation, where is the smoke for ESPN? Additionally, does anyone believe that ESPN exposes itself to potential legal action if this story wasn’t properly vetted?

Jim Irsay

On the heels of the Snyder report, the Indianapolis owner took the opportunity to opine regarding the issue. In words that rang with clarity, Irsay stated that enough evidence exists for the NFL owners, via vote, to strip Snyder of his franchise. In subsequent statements, Irsay mentioned, ” the shield took damage”. While this isn’t a defense of anything that happened in Washington, Irsay speaking from the moral high ground remains the wildest thing in the NFL since the Bud Bowl. Irsay was arrested with prescription medications that exceeded normal amounts. Additionally, a townhouse that he owned was the place of death of his alleged former mistress, who apparently overdosed there. Now, people can change, improve, etc. However, if the NFL didn’t run Jim Irsay out of town, what makes anyone believe Dan Snyder is vulnerable?

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Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft

The owner’s meeting experienced more fireworks as word of heated banter between Robert Kraft, Patriots owner, and Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner. In a vote that stood at 31-1. regarding the commissioner’s compensation, Jones voted no. According to multiple sources, this is where the four-letter exchange occurred. Now, anyone older than a minute old understands the checkered but separate histories that these two have. Jones ran the Cowboys during the turbulent 90s, where for every Super Bowl ring, the Cowboys seemingly tacked on two arrests. On the other hand, Kraft, owner of the NFL’s signature franchise, once found himself on the business end of handcuffs for his alleged involvement in a prostitution sting. Yes, the owner of the New England Patriots ran afoul of the law in a massage parlor. Luckily, for Kraft, his happy ending arrived with no charges. What is making these owners so testy? Not like they perfunctorily make comments or stances.

The Cracked Shield

From Jim Irsay to Jerry Jones, and countless other NFL dignitaries, the lie, the farce of protecting the NFL shield remains almost as laughable as Thursday Night Football. Remember, this league established a twelve-year ban on signing Black players. Also, how many players suffer from the effects of post-concussion syndrome, linked to CTE? Or, shooting injured players up with painkillers, in order to get them ready to play a game? As a result, any reputation the league earned is not a positive one. Thirty-two people in their respective owner’s boxes may disagree, but, down here, in the cheap seats, the view remains obviously different.

Overview

The NFL is a powerful cadre of individuals that hold the professional aspects of the sport hostage. Under those circumstances, rip open all of the books, emails, and payments. Unlike Nero watching Rome burn, the NFL, if it truly wants to hold principle above profit, must become transparent. If not, we will continue to see incident pile up, while those directly enduring the physical pain have little say, due to a flimsy union. Owners will continue to fight for the cameras, player will continue to play.