NFL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2012: Celebration Is Exactly What NFL Needs

On Saturday night, the NFL will throw its annual celebration of greatness with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012 getting its moment in the spotlight. For commissioner Roger Goodell and the rest of the league, this night in Canton can't come soon enough. 

While the focus of the night should and will be on Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin and Willie Roaf, the NFL needs to use it as a way to move past what has been a disastrous offseason. 

The second the New York Giants won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots, everything seemed to start crumbling around everyone for the NFL like one of those dream buildings at the end of Inception. 

Obviously, the biggest story of the NFL offseason has been Bountygate. The New Orleans Saints turned the league on its head when an audiotape of coaches and players was leaked. 

Goodell had to go into action right away, which as everyone in New Orleans knows, he did without mercy or regret. 

Saints head coach Sean Payton was given a one-year suspension. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was handed the dreaded indefinite suspension. Assistant coach Joe Vitt is gone for the first six games of the season. General Manager Mickey Loomis will miss half the regular season. 

Players like Jonathan Vilma (season), Anthony Hargrove (eight games), Will Smith (four) and Scott Fujita (three) were also hit by the Hammer of Goodell. 

The players were less than thrilled with the suspensions, particularly Vilma, who is still fighting it in federal court.

If that wasn't bad enough, Newsday has a list of all the players that have been arrested this offseason, a grand total of 15. 

The league needs something, anything to get away from this bad publicity, even if it is just for one night. 

As a celebration of greatness, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony on Saturday night is exactly what the NFL needs to shake off all the problems from this offseason. After it is over, we can start talking about how replacement referees will be working the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday. 

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