LATimes: Article: Upshaw mulls penalties for law breakers

[Cbz40]

Upshaw mulls penalties for law breakers

Head of union says he'll weigh players' call for 'three strikes' policy in wake of recent arrests.

By Sam Farmer, Times Staff Writer
February 24, 2007


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INDIANAPOLIS — The head of the NFL players' union indicated Friday that he would give serious consideration to a three strikes-type program for players who repeatedly run afoul of the law, one that includes penalties similar to those in the league's drug policy.

The idea was proposed a day earlier by a group of players who met at an Indianapolis hotel with Commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh and Pat Bowlen of Denver, members of the league's Conduct Advisory Committee. The three-hour meeting was to discuss what the league should do about the rise in off-the-field transgressions by players.

"The one thing that I thought that was surprising to me is the [players] are sort of moving in the direction of having penalties similar to drug policies — that at some point you're out," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Assn.

"You can't continue to keep violating policies. You can't be in the wrong place three or four times. One time, two times maybe, but three or four times in the wrong place at the wrong time? They didn't like that."

The league considers its drug policy the toughest in sports. A player who tests positive for a banned substance is suspended for four games, one quarter of the season. A second failed test results in a one-year suspension.

Goodell is considering several options, among them making individual teams more accountable for the actions of their players, and ramping up programs already in place such as the mandatory rookie symposium.

The Cincinnati Bengals had more arrests last season than victories, with nine players locked up in the past nine months, some more than once. Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis attended Thursday's meeting.

"We wanted him there because of what's been going on, but not pointing the fingers at anyone," Upshaw said. "Just saying, 'What can we do that we're not doing? Is there something we're missing? Give us some help.' And that's what those [players] did."

The week began with more bad news for the league: Tennessee Titans cornerback Pacman Jones was at the scene Monday morning of a triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club. The establishment's owner told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Jones grabbed a stripper by the hair and slammed her face into the stage. Rob Susnar, owner of the club Minxx, said Jones threatened to kill a security guard before leaving with his entourage. Outside, a gunman opened fire, shooting three people and leaving one paralyzed below the waist.

Jones has denied any involvement in the shooting.

Titans Coach Jeff Fisher declined to address Jones' situation but said: "Player conduct off the field is an issue…. It's something that we have to get control of."

He added that such incidents "have embarrassed our game."

Upshaw also declined to address Jones' case but said what the players discussed in the meeting Thursday was "an eye-opener" to the league executives and team owners.

"The common denominator was these guys really care," Upshaw said of the players. "They care about the game. They care … that we're all painted with the same brush. Ninety percent is doing the right thing, and we've got 10% that's not."

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sam.farmer@latimes.com

 

[5Stars]

I hope they follow through with this. It's time to put a stop to these rich thugs that think they can get away with murder (pun intended)...

How many times are these guys going to get away with this kind of nonsense until it finally comes to a stop?

 

[THUMPER]

I think it's a great idea and way past time that it should have been in place.

I love how in touch Upshaw is with the players he represents. Why that guy is still the head of the union is beyond me.

 

[big dog cowboy]

This is a fantastic idea that should have been implemented many years ago.

Individual teams do need to be responsible themselves however and take action when needed. What has happened the last year in Cincy is unacceptable and gives the entire league a black eye.

 

[Hoofbite]

The idea was proposed a day earlier by a group of players who met at an Indianapolis hotel with Commissioner Roger Goodell and team owners Dan Rooney of Pittsburgh and Pat Bowlen of Denver, members of the league's Conduct Advisory Committee. The three-hour meeting was to discuss what the league should do about the rise in off-the-field transgressions by players.

How bad does it have to get before players come to the league and ask for something to be done. Seriously?

"The one thing that I thought that was surprising to me is the [players] are sort of moving in the direction of having penalties similar to drug policies — that at some point you're out," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Assn.

Suprising? Whats so suprising about it? These guys see a problem and they realize that it will take a lot more then just a slap on the wrist to fix it. This isn't just about making the league look good at this point. Its about the well-being of the players. At some point, someone in the office "should be out", Gene.

He added that such incidents "have embarrassed our game." (Jeff Fisher)

Jeff Fisher seems to be the type of guy you would want in a program like this. He respects the game 1st and foremost. From the way that he handle the Haynesworth situation, I take my hat off to him. Even from the time it happened because let me tell you something.......If you got a man that size cracking skulls, its takes a real set of stones to go over there and jump his butt like Fisher did and then in the press conference, he was solid class-act.

I honestly think that he would have put Haynesworth on the deactives for a few more games if it weren't for bums like Gene Upshaw.

Upshaw also declined to address Jones' case but said what the players discussed in the meeting Thursday was "an eye-opener" to the league executives and team owners.

Real "eye-opener" huh?

As if Joey Porter being shot wasn't enough. Or Keith Davis TWICE for that matter. As if the horrible story of Rae Carruth trying to have his 8-month pregnant girlfriend killed wasn't an "eye-opener". Or how about the story of Ray Lewis being in the wrong place-wrong time, guilty or not, how can you not start to take action after that incident? The list just goes on and on. Im mean, Sean Taylor has had bullet holes put into his car out of front of his friends how and no matter the circumstances surrounding it, that alone warranted something. Just on and on, It really does and topper has to be the Darrent Williams story.

I realize that Darrent was really in the wrong-place at the wrong time but if you want an "eye-opener", thats gotta be it. From all accounts Darrent was a great person. As I traveled through Denver on Christmas Eve, I was watching the Bengals/Broncos game. They had a commerical for a local college and Im almost positive that it was Darrent Williams who was endorsing this college because he took classes there and graduated. Im pretty sure it was but either way, the man seemed to be such a great person.

Its just sad that not even an event like this where the player had no fault at all, can not open the eyes and start something on behalf of the league.

"We wanted him there because of what's been going on, but not pointing the fingers at anyone," Upshaw said. "Just saying, 'What can we do that we're not doing? Is there something we're missing? Give us some help.' And that's what those [players] did."

There is something that the leauge is missing. And I don't want this to come off wrong or anything but a lot of the young players these days didn't exactly have the greatest of circumstances growing up. Hell, I saw a recent story about Shawne Merriman. He couldn't eat at times his family was soo poor and I think his high-school coach took him in. Point being, a lot of these guys are just not equipped to deal with the over-night celebrity aspect of the game. They come out of college and are handed more money then they seriously know what to do with. And now they can buy everything they want and have dreamed about and can live the lavish life style. Thats all good and great but the problem is, they haven't learned how to handle themselves now that they have all this money and it gets them into trouble. There should be something in place that helps these guys learn how to adjust to everything.....money, fame, all of it.

 

[5Stars]

I think it's a great idea and way past time that it should have been in place.

I love how in touch Upshaw is with the players he represents. Why that guy is still the head of the union is beyond me.

Upshaw is nothing more then the fox guarding the hen house...!

All this "surprising to me", "eye-opener" stuff that he said...WHAT? Does he not see what is going on?

Upshaw needs to go, first! Everyone says it starts at the top, right?

Also, teams need to take matters in their own hand too...however, the Players Union (Upshaw) won't allow certain punishment, yet, the union comes out saying that the team should be responsible too?