Not A Great Start By Goodell

NFL season is on (finally) and it has NOT been a great start for its commissioner, Roger Goodell.

Exhibit A: Marshawn Lynch
Lynch was involved in a hit and run accident that left the victim wounded. In the new NFL, everyone thought Lynch was going to miss a game or two. Not so. Goodell said not enough there, not a history of bad decisions. No games missed.

If I’m involved in a hit and run accident, you can bet there will be a little stiffer punishment.

Exhibit B: The Favre Chronicles
He waits to reinstate Brett Favre hoping to avoid a media circus. I’m not sure what exactly he was thinking. So instead of reinstating Favre earlier and allowing the two sides to possibly sit down and work out a deal, he waited. In the meantime, stories came out about tampering, the Packers tried to buy off Farve from unretiring, and lots of verbal barbs were exchanged. Barbs it turns out that either side can’t get over.

Exhibit C: The Favre Chronicles, Part 2
Did Minnesota tamper with Brett Favre? Probably. Does every other team in the NFL do this? Yes. While Goodell made the right decision in not punishing Minnesota, once again he didn’t seem to have the sense urgency to make a decision. Dragging things out always makes them worse.

Exhibit D: Brandon Marshall Suspension
The worst kept secret in the NFL was that Marshall was going to get a 3 game suspension for his off-field actions that could get reduced to 2 if he does counseling. Again, Goodell waits 2 weeks to make an announcement and in the meantime, more drama and attention is drawn to the situation.

I’m not upset that he ruled that Marshall must miss some games. He should. Playing in the NFL is a privilege, not a right. By the same token, he should have sent Lynch home for a game or two as well.

It’s not that Goodell’s decisions (except maybe the Lynch one) were bad decisions. It’s that it takes him forever to announce them and in the meantime, more damage is done. Besides that, the media leaks inside his office are ridiculous.

Let’s hope the games get here soon so we don’t have to deal with a lot more of this.