Roger Goodell Upheld His $10,000 Fine of Troy Polamalu Because He Is Awful

I don't know Roger Goodell as a person. He might be a very nice man when you get to know him. Maybe he enjoys spending his evenings around a warm fire sipping single-malt scotch and playing Trivial Pursuit with the neighbors.

Sometimes I try to imagine Goodell in situations like that in an effort to humanize our current NFL commissioner. I cannot fathom how a man who runs an organization as immensely successful as the National Football League could be so awful. But here we are, yet again, talking about how awful he is.

This week, Goodell upheld the ruling that he had already made, fining Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu $10,000 for using a cell phone on the sideline during a game. Talk about roaming charges!

Given his past history of concussions, Polamalu used the phone to call his wife and reassure her that he was not seriously hurt after using his head to tackle Maurice Jones-Drew. Goodell justified his decision by telling reporters (via NFL.com):

"

"'When someone's injured and you're family, you want to speak to the individual. And you want to hear their voice. You want to make sure they're OK...And that's something that probably could've happened by taking him off the field and allowing him access to be able to call his wife."

"

Even the league's own writers think this explanation is nonsensical. Dan Hanzus of NFL.com was charged with writing up the story on Thursday and ended his news piece with this little nugget of commentary:

"

"You hear that players? Please get carted off the field before you tell your family you're alive."

"

Not only is that a great line, it's a great line on the league's official site, making it an almost certainty that Hanzus will get fined $10,000 for writing it.

I do see Goodell's point that he doesn't want players texting on the sidelines which could lead to—gasp!—tweeting on the sidelines. Then Goodell and his "everything-goes-through-us" media conglomerate would have leaks all over the place.

But this isn't like the situation with Joe Horn a few years back, using a phone as a prop in a touchdown celebration. And it's not like Polamalu was tweeting to his fans that he was okay. He was calling his family. Additionally, it wasn't even Polamalu's own phone—it was the team doctor's, according to coach Mike Tomlin.

More importantly for Goodell, was it a Verizon phone? Because if it were Sprint or AT&T, I'd be surprised if there wasn't another fine coming down from the league for using a non-sanctioned carrier inside the stadium.

The fact is, Goodell could have gotten his point across by announcing a fine and getting a nice PR bump about the rule before allowing Polamalu to publicly appeal and then reduce the fine to nothing.

That way, the point is made to all other players that the league will not tolerate the use of cell phones for any reason on the sidelines from this point forward, without making one of the most likeable players in the league pay a five-figure fine for calling his wife after he got hit in the head.

Giving out the fine was acceptable. It's upholding the fine that makes Goodell so awful.

If there's ever been a situation where it's so blatantly obvious that the NFL appeals system is broken, it's this. I'm sure the NFLPA isn't happy about the structure for appeals, but obviously there were bigger issues to deal with during the lockout. Having said that, it's clear the owners and players have put too much power in Goodell's hands.

If Goodell is to remain in charge of handling all appeals, the system should allow players to appeal their fines and suspensions before they are given out, not after. If Goodell planned to fine Polamalu in this situation, word should be sent from the league that a fine is coming and before that fine is levied the player should have an opportunity to plead his case. Then, after hearing all the facts, Goodell should make his final ruling.

In other words, having no appeals process seems better than having the current appeals process. Besides, this particular situation isn't about that process as much as it's a referendum on how the NFL views head injuries.

By saying, "I think it's always a problem trying to have a rule that applies to everybody," Goodell is publicly stating that his policies are more important than players being able to immediately talk to their families after they get head injuries.

He did follow that comment by explaining there are "ways of us getting word to families when there is an injury," but given the circumstances of the situation, the Commissioner has shown where his priorities lie. Once again, it doesn't look like his priorities are on the side of the players.

It's an awful situation. There is no amount of single-malt or board games that won't make this decision, and this Commissioner, look awful.