2008 Woodie Awards
All signs point to extreme
Mark Rentfro
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
After one week of NFL, the biggest story has little to do with actual football. Bill Belichick and his New England Patriots, arguably the league's most marketable team, allegedly used video cameras to tape the New York Jets' play calling during their game last weekend. Speculations on the punishment that will be handed down range from a suspension or fine for Belichick to a loss of multiple Patriots draft picks.
For a league that last year suspended San Diego Chargers' linebacker Shawne Merriman for violation of league drug policy, but then allowed him to compete in the team's playoff games and the Pro Bowl, sign stealing seems minor. While ethically questionable, stealing signs to gain an advantage is certainly not illegal. Consumption of steroids, however, is not only against league rules, it is against the law. So, apparently, a federal offense is worth a slap on the wrist, but when an organization conspires to gain a strategic advantage, the proverbial hammer must be dropped. This seems illogical at first. However, the longer I think about it, the more it makes sense.
The NFL is notorious for the strict enforcement of rules that seem trivial in relation to other issues facing the league. The NFL seems obsessed with not allowing individual players to stand out at the expense of a manufactured sense of team unity. This is the league that threatened to fine Peyton Manning $25,000 for wearing black shoes in memory of Johnny Unitas. This is the league that is in a constant battle with players over on-field celebrations. This is the league that would would prefer Bill Belichick look like a hobo than wear something other than official NFL clothing.
The league's harsh reaction to something as insignificant as stealing another teams' signs, when they are content to forgive and forget when a player breaks the rules and puts his life at risk in the process is indicative the team first mentality taken to a bizarre extreme.
Don't get me wrong. I think Belichick and the Patriots should be punished. I just hope the league realizes how confusing and disappointing it will be if the Patriots are punished more harshly for stealing signs than Shawne Merriman was for taking steroids.
For a league that last year suspended San Diego Chargers' linebacker Shawne Merriman for violation of league drug policy, but then allowed him to compete in the team's playoff games and the Pro Bowl, sign stealing seems minor. While ethically questionable, stealing signs to gain an advantage is certainly not illegal. Consumption of steroids, however, is not only against league rules, it is against the law. So, apparently, a federal offense is worth a slap on the wrist, but when an organization conspires to gain a strategic advantage, the proverbial hammer must be dropped. This seems illogical at first. However, the longer I think about it, the more it makes sense.
The NFL is notorious for the strict enforcement of rules that seem trivial in relation to other issues facing the league. The NFL seems obsessed with not allowing individual players to stand out at the expense of a manufactured sense of team unity. This is the league that threatened to fine Peyton Manning $25,000 for wearing black shoes in memory of Johnny Unitas. This is the league that is in a constant battle with players over on-field celebrations. This is the league that would would prefer Bill Belichick look like a hobo than wear something other than official NFL clothing.
The league's harsh reaction to something as insignificant as stealing another teams' signs, when they are content to forgive and forget when a player breaks the rules and puts his life at risk in the process is indicative the team first mentality taken to a bizarre extreme.
Don't get me wrong. I think Belichick and the Patriots should be punished. I just hope the league realizes how confusing and disappointing it will be if the Patriots are punished more harshly for stealing signs than Shawne Merriman was for taking steroids.
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