PFT: Troy Smith questions Goodell on emphasis of off-field conduct problem

[Doomsday101]

Let's see .... what is better press.

a) "Hi, I'm NFL Commish Roger Goodell. You know, sometimes our players drive drunk, buy alcohol for minors, have too many guns, hehehe, well folks, you know the list just goes on and on. Heck, a few years ago we had someone order a hit on his girlfriend and unborn baby! We are the NFL, sometimes players do bad things, but when they do I WILL CRUSH THEM!"

or

b) "Hi, I'm NFL Commish Roger Goodell. Our players are involved in tons of efforts to help their communities. Some volunteer at food banks, some create scholarship funds for underpriviledged children, and some even save drowning horses! We're the NFL, we do good things!"

Both. Many fans (not all) want to see their favorite sports cleaned up and the people playing the game want that as well so seeing the commission actually doing something that has teeth shows that they do mean business and not just paying lip service. I also love seeing reports of good things done by players in helping their communities and those in need which I think is the majority of the players. As for the handful of problems children, to hell with them this league will survive just fine without them, they are not bigger than the game itself even though they and some of the fans think otherwise. This league will be fine with or without the likes of Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson.

 

[AbeBeta]

Both. Many fans (not all) want to see their favorite sports cleaned up and the people playing the game want that as well so seeing the commission actually doing something that has teeth shows that they do mean business and not just paying lip service. I also love seeing reports of good things done by players in helping their communities and those in need which I think is the majority of the players. As for the handful of problems children, to hell with them this league will survive just fine without them, they are not bigger than the game itself even though they and some of the fans think otherwise. This league will be fine with or without the likes of Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson.

Both. Sure. But if you only hear about the bad stuff and the getting punished then you are only focusing on the bad press. There are just a "handful" of problem children but think now about how much press those guys get. An exclusive focus on punishment sends a message that there is a serious problem -- obviously there is a problem -- but you certainly don't want that to be the only message that people take away about the NFL.

 

[AbeBeta]

Lets try this from the beginning. You said "you don't get good press from punishing people" and I said yes you do. Did i say it was better press, no I did not. But it is good press and it will be transferred by the media. The good things that they do, do not get transferred very much at all.

Actually, if you read most stories about the punishments, you'll find that most outline how many bad things the player has done - with only about a line or two focusing on the punishment. you don't get good press from having a player's problems rehashed over and over in the media.

 

[Doomsday101]

Both. Sure. But if you only hear about the bad stuff and the getting punished then you are only focusing on the bad press. There are just a "handful" of problem children but think now about how much press those guys get. An exclusive focus on punishment sends a message that there is a serious problem -- obviously there is a problem -- but you certainly don't want that to be the only message that people take away about the NFL.

No doubt and Goodell and the entire NFL could stand on building tops and scream out the good they do and the press will still stick with the negative story just as they do with world or national news. Because of that players get an overall reputation as nothing but a dumb jock that chances are do drugs which is why many of the players went to the league office about cleaning up this image that they don't deserve. Myself I'm thrilled that the players did this

 

[CrazyCowboy]

That took a little nerve.

 

[aikemirv]

Actually, if you read most stories about the punishments, you'll find that most outline how many bad things the player has done - with only about a line or two focusing on the punishment. you don't get good press from having a player's problems rehashed over and over in the media.

Goodell can't control that press. All he can do is make sure there is a punishment for the indiscretion. Otherwise you would have a story about all the bad things the guy did and no punishment. What good would that serve. My point is that "having a punishment " is very good press. Not having one is terrible press.

Not comparing types of press but saying that "justice is good press". Injustice is certainly not.

My word, the NFL network shows tons of good press. How can the NFL control what ESPN shows. Let's see.

"Upcoming on Sportscenter. "Chris Henry goes to Ronald McDonald house"

How many will tune in for that. Not many sorry to say. Everybody wants to blame the press these days but it is he Society that feeds them!!

 

[AbeBeta]

Goodell can't control that press. All he can do is make sure there is a punishment for the indiscretion. Otherwise you would have a story about all the bad things the guy did and no punishment. What good would that serve. My point is that "having a punishment " is very good press. Not having one is terrible press.

Not comparing types of press but saying that "justice is good press". Injustice is certainly not.

My word, the NFL network shows tons of good press. How can the NFL control what ESPN shows. Let's see.

"Upcoming on Sportscenter. "Chris Henry goes to Ronald McDonald house"

How many will tune in for that. Not many sorry to say. Everybody wants to blame the press these days but it is he Society that feeds them!!

Actually, major organization CAN control the press to an extent. That's what public relations are all about.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Troy Smith was the unnamed rookie....

 

[aikemirv]

Actually, major organization CAN control the press to an extent. That's what public relations are all about.

One can argue for the sake of arguing too!!!!!

 

[AbeBeta]

One can argue for the sake of arguing too!!!!!

so that is what people say when they are wrong

 

[WoodysGirl]

TROY SMITH QUERIED ROGER GOODELL by Michael David Smith

We noted this morning that a player at the NFL's Rookie Symposium asked commissioner Roger Goodell some tough questions about why he doesn't focus more on the positive when he speaks about the league and its players. Now at least part of that exchange -- with Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Troy Smith quizzing Goodell -- is available as a video on NFL.com with a heading that says, "NFL Network looks at the 11th annual rookie symposium."

Early in the video, NFL Network's Rich Eisen reports that Goodell gave a 10-minute speech and that the speech was followed by "quite a lively question and answer period." It then shows Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy last year at Ohio State, speaking up.

The video shows Smith saying to Goodell that every time he has seen Goodell speak, he has spoken about the need for more discipline. Smith then asks, "When and where is the positive stuff from you going to come out?"

Goodell replied, "Well, when you say positive stuff, I walk around talking about players and what they do in their communities every place I go. Unfortunately the media hits you with the negatives, and the commissioner has to deal with a lot of the negatives. But I promote our players every chance I can about what we are doing in our communities, what the players are doing in their communities. It reflects on that shield [meaning the NFL logo]. When I talk about that shield I talk about that shield because everyone here has an interest in it, Troy. It is not just about your individual team. It is not just about where you come from, Ohio State University. It's about what you represent as an NFL player right now. And we all represent that shield."

Unfortunately, the NFL.com video does not show Smith's follow-up, in which he apparently told Goodell, "You haven't answered my question." But the video does show an interaction that makes the league look good if for no other reason than its willingness to address controversial issues head-on.

Smith comes away looking confident and poised (as a Heisman Trophy winner he obviously has more experience with public speaking than almost anyone else at the Symposium). Goodell holds his ground and doesn't pretend everything is rosy inside the league. An open exchange of ideas is never a bad thing.

 

[aikemirv]

so that is what people say when they are wrong

You want to keep this up.

You said that it was bad press to have the punishment aired on the media.

You are wrong.

Justice is good press every day of the week!!!!

 

[aikemirv]

TROY SMITH QUERIED ROGER GOODELL by Michael David Smith

We noted this morning that a player at the NFL's Rookie Symposium asked commissioner Roger Goodell some tough questions about why he doesn't focus more on the positive when he speaks about the league and its players. Now at least part of that exchange -- with Baltimore Ravens rookie quarterback Troy Smith quizzing Goodell -- is available as a video on NFL.com with a heading that says, "NFL Network looks at the 11th annual rookie symposium."

Early in the video, NFL Network's Rich Eisen reports that Goodell gave a 10-minute speech and that the speech was followed by "quite a lively question and answer period." It then shows Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy last year at Ohio State, speaking up.

The video shows Smith saying to Goodell that every time he has seen Goodell speak, he has spoken about the need for more discipline. Smith then asks, "When and where is the positive stuff from you going to come out?"

Goodell replied, "Well, when you say positive stuff, I walk around talking about players and what they do in their communities every place I go. Unfortunately the media hits you with the negatives, and the commissioner has to deal with a lot of the negatives. But I promote our players every chance I can about what we are doing in our communities, what the players are doing in their communities. It reflects on that shield [meaning the NFL logo]. When I talk about that shield I talk about that shield because everyone here has an interest in it, Troy. It is not just about your individual team. It is not just about where you come from, Ohio State University. It's about what you represent as an NFL player right now. And we all represent that shield."
Unfortunately, the NFL.com video does not show Smith's follow-up, in which he apparently told Goodell, "You haven't answered my question." But the video does show an interaction that makes the league look good if for no other reason than its willingness to address controversial issues head-on.

Smith comes away looking confident and poised (as a Heisman Trophy winner he obviously has more experience with public speaking than almost anyone else at the Symposium). Goodell holds his ground and doesn't pretend everything is rosy inside the league. An open exchange of ideas is never a bad thing.

It looks to me that Goodell answered his question very well and complete.

 

[dargonking999]

It looks to me that Goodell answered his question very well and complete.

Thats what i thought

but i guess when you graduate from OSU, you have to have answers to your questions in short simple sentences. So not to get confused

 

[Concord]

Good for Smith.

He better not screw up now.

 

[aikemirv]

Thats what i thought

but i guess when you graduate from OSU, you have to answers to your questions in short simple sentences. So not to get confused

That's what I was thinking!

 

[Concord]

Thats what i thought

but i guess when you graduate from OSU, you have to have answers to your questions in short simple sentences. So not to get confused

Yeah if you're going to rip on someones education you better edit your post so it makes sense.

 

[zeromaster]

It looks to me that Goodell answered his question very well and complete.

The only thing I can see Smith having a problem with is the interpretation of "when" in Goodell's response, but it's impractical for the comissioner to say specifically "I'll be talking about the positives of the league on (name your date/time)...". Would Troy be there in any case, or would the media give it the sort of press that would get his attention?

Perhaps the way he responded left Smith confused. Or maybe Smith way just trying to make a point of his own. He certainly didn't give much of a clue as to what specifically he was looking for, unless it was a concrete date, time, and location.

 

[dargonking999]

Yeah if you're going to rip on someones education you better edit your post so it makes sense.

lol,

it was fine how it is, but i didn't want to ruin the fun by having someone say "hey you missed this"

 

[Concord]

lol,

it was fine how it is, but i didn't want to ruin the fun by having someone say "hey you missed this"

Don't worry, you sound like you went to Michigan.