Since the turn of the century there have been a significant amount of suspensions in the NFL compared to back to Joe Montana’s playing days. Let that sink in for a moment. The NFL has come to point where people factor in their fantasy drafts, and season long predictions based on a player’s background with suspensions. As Week 1 of the NFL came along, the headlines for the NFL were not the preseason winding down and the excitement of the first week of the season, but instead if Tom Brady would or would not play the first four games of the season due to “Deflategate.” Athletes seem to have taken on the role of a celebrity and have developed a different set of morals. People are now starting to question the moral standard of athletes and what they have become.
There are many types of suspensions issued to players for behaviors including personal conduct, domestic violence, off-field arrests, betting, etc. Star players who have been suspended from the NFL for these reasons include Marshawn Lynch, Michael Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson. No matter the superstar level a player has in the NFL, many feel that players are still making wrongful decisions leading to their suspensions.
There are many rules in the NFL standard player contract stating what will get players punished for certain actions including, “Section 11 of the NFL standard player contract, for instance, provides that ‘if Player has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club, then Club may terminate this contract,” according to William H. Baaki of sportslawinsider.com.
“When I hear that a NFL player has been suspended I’m not surprised, it happens all the time. People are not hanging out with the right people, money makes them invincible,” NHS Junior Derek Ivey said.
It was interesting to note that the NFL gives out more suspensions compared to other major professional sports like the NBA and MLB. “There are more players, more press attention, and players grew up in poor neighbors that lead to poor decisions,” Ivey said.
In addition Ivey says if he were commissioner, “There should be a mentor system with players with good behavior, preventing them from making mistakes.”
NHS Junior Jake Wilson has a similar reaction when hearing that a player in the NFL has been suspended. Wilson believes that the reasoning behind all of these suspensions is that “[there is a] problem with respect to way of life.”
Wilson also agrees with Ivey regarding the suspensions between each sports saying, “[It’s a] big time job. [Players] have lots of time on their hand, fill in their free time, whatever fun is,” Wilson said.
Wilson believes the reason for such an increase in suspensions this century is, “Same reason why recreational drugs have increased. Players are more reckless, take bigger risks.”
NHS Junior Kevin Arthur agrees with Ivey for the reasoning for the increase in suspensions in the NFL compared to other professional sports. “It’s such a rough environment,” Arthur said.
“It is a privilege to play in the NFL and the players seem to be very immature and unaware of this,” Arthur continued, “Whenever I hear a player has been suspended, it seems to always be about drugs so there needs to be more discipline. [The NFL] needs to suspend these players regardless of what it does to the image of the sport.”
So, players are aware of their responsibilities when they sign the contract to play however, still find a way to get in trouble.
From what have people have discussed, players should be kept away from the sport for more games and receive harsher punishments for their behaviors. The role of a professional athlete has vastly changed since the beginning of the new millennium and in order for the youth to be inspired and look up to certain athletes, there is a calling for disciplinary actions.