The NFL: Football League or Court TV?

This could not have been an offseason the NFL wished for.

As we get closer to the opening of training camps this month, the powers at be at the NFL front offices surely cannot wait to have people start talking about issues that are on the field.  Heck, I'm sure most people would love to hear yet another Brett Favre rumor.

When the 2008 season concluded, football fans were able to watch one of the better Super Bowls, or at least, better fourth quarters played in history.  Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner dueled back and forth with the Steelers edging out the Cardinals with a memorable Santonio Holmes touchdown grab. 

But that's been just about the last good story the NFL has had this year.  Since then, other than Brett Favre's on-again-off-again desire to play with the Minnesota Vikings, the talk revolving around the league and its players has not been who might get signed and for how long, but who might go to prison, and how soon will they be on probation so they can go back to play?

The NFL has had these problems for several years now, and NFL commissioner Roger Goddell has made cleaning up his product one of his primary goals since taking over several years ago.  He has instituted stiffer penalties for player misconduct that players like Michael Vick and Adam "Pacman" Jones have felt the wrath of.  But it still doesn't seem to be clicking in these players heads.

And because of it, much of the NFL talk you hear on ESPN, Fox Sports, or even Bleacher Report these days revolves around crimes being committed.  These are just some of the stories we've had to discuss.

Plaxico Burress

After shooting himself in the hip last November, he has since been released by the Giants.  Teams have not signed him yet as he might be facing a trial, not to mention a suspension by Roger Goddell.

Brandon Marshall

Marshall has been arrested numerous times, including once this year facing various domestic abuse charges with his fiancee.  He has requested to be traded this year but despite his talent, teams have been reluctant to go after him due to his multiple arrests.

Michael Vick

The saga continues.  Though he's now in a halfway house, many people are still protesting the mere mention that he might play in the NFL again.  Hundreds of reporters stalked his home paparazzi style when he was released.

Jamal Anderson

Former NFL running back and ESPN analyst Jamal Anderson, known for his "dirty bird" touchdown celebration, was arrested in February on suspicion of cocaine possession.

Donte Stallworth

This was perhaps the worst of all incidents this year.  Stallworth is currently serving 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to second degree manslaughter when he struck a jaywalker while being legally drunk.  While he will only serve one month in prison, he has been indefinitely suspended.

Steve McNair

This is the most tragic situation to happen this year.  Details are still coming out regarding the murder of the former Tennessee Titan great.  What we know is he was murdered by Sahel Kazemi, whom he was apparently dating despite the fact he was married with four children.  While his death is certainly a tragedy, many NFL fans and certainly the people of Nashville were equally stunned to hear McNair, whom many looked up to for his charitable deeds and good reputation, could have gotten involved in such a situation to begin with.

This is just a small sampling of what has gone on this offseason.  I find it a shame.  The 2008 season produced a lot of great football action this year, and showed a new sense of parity with the Arizona Cardinals making their first trip to the Super Bowl. 

So, how does this get solved?  Another question is, did this kind of stuff go on before without us knowing?  The fact is, we do live in a 24/7 media now with reporters at every practice field covering a team full time.  Is it possible that 30 years ago someone living in Seattle would not have heard of a DUI charge for a player in Dallas?  Absolutely.

But that doesn't excuse the fact that the NFL has a major image problem right now.  For too long, NFL players were able to abuse a wife, drive drunk, or brandish a gun at a club and get away with their acts nearly unscathed by the league.  Commissioner Goddell has done a good job so far to let the players know these acts will no longer go unpunished. 

But if the league sees another offseason like this one, perhaps he should go even further with these punishments.  Fine players record amounts of money; heck, put more of an emphasis on organizations policing their players.  You would think they should be already, seeing that every time a player gets national attention for an arrest, it embarrasses that organization.

The Cincinatti Bengals are a perfect example of this.  Despite having some modest success for the first time in nearly 20 years, the team gained a reputation as being a team of convicts.  Several players like Chris Henry were arrested numerous times.  The Bengals finally saw their situation was spiraling out of control and cut many of the cancers they had, even though it has hurt their on the field product.

I am a huge football fan, and always will be.  I for one, can't wait to see the Chicago Bears take the field, and I am also proud that they have gotten rid of bad apples like Tank Johnson and Cedric Benson in recent years.  But while I am a football fan, I'm also a concerned one.

I'm concerned of what I will show the children I will someday have when I take them to a football game.  I'm concerned the news they'll see on ESPN about these athletes he or she might look up to.  And that is why this situation must be tackled now.