Roger Goodell: Get over Yourself

Let me start by saying that I do not respect Michael Vick as a person and I think his talents as a quarterback are incredibly overrated.

Conversely, I respect what Roger Goodell is trying to do with the NFL.

Goodell took over as the NFL Commissioner in 2006 and could have easily sat back and raked in all the money.  The NFL is nearly foolproof and is a guaranteed way to make tons of money through so many different avenues.

Surprisingly, money was not the motive for Goodell.  He saw a league that needed to clean up its act and become respectable in the eyes of the communities it was involved with and the fans who supported the league.

Sadly there have been instances where players thought they were above the law.  The Commish stepped in and brought some of the punks in the NFL back down to earth.

I applauded his efforts and his tough stance.  He was firm, but fair.  Rigid with rules, but forgiving.

I believe he handled the debacles in Cincinnati admirably, and the Adam "Pacman" Jones situation well.

Goodell was praised by the media, fans, players and owners.  That's a lot of praise for one man, and it may have finally gone to his head.

Look, I can't blame the guy for going on an ego trip.  He arguably runs the most successful sports league in the world, makes a ton of money, has a wonderful family and seems to make all of the right decisions.

Well that last point is now in serious question after the Vick fiasco.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn’t it up to our judicial system to determine if a person is guilty or not guilty of a law.  Isn't it up to that system to sentence a person for the crime committed and to then rehabilitate that person.

The NFL—and, even more importantly, Goodell—is not responsible for handing out additional punishments.

I'm not going to say if Vick served to much or to little time.  That is not my call, and it certainly isn't Goodell's call.  Someone in the legal system gave Vick a sentence for heinous crimes and Vick served his time.

He is a free man with the right to earn a living.

Now Goodell wants to step in and say, "Nah.  Not good enough for me Michael.  I think I'll make you serve additional time under my watch."

This makes no sense to me.  I am not trying to write a pity story for Vick.  He got himself into this mess.  My point is that Goodell should not hand out additional penalties once the legal system is done with a criminal.  It doesn't make sense and reeks of a man who is getting a little too full of himself.

Do something proactive Goodell.  Don't sit back and tell Vick he is suspended until week six of the NFL season.  Allow Vick to sign somewhere and then make him go out into his new community where he can provide some sort of public service.

Use your vision and power to try and make this a positive experience.  In the end, I really hope we have not gone from a league where players thought they were above the law to a league where the commissioner writes the law.