I believe in the freedom of speech but I also believe in civility. I also firmly believe in consistency. The NFL has a long a proud tradition of attempting to ‘do the right thing.’
The NFL under the leadership of Commissioner Roger Goodell has taken a strong and consistent stance on player conduct and speech deemed ‘detrimental to the league.’ A player or coach, for that matter, can say or do whatever they like (the NFL has not revoked ‘free will’) but they should be prepared to be swiftly reprimanded, fined and/or suspended.
I have been a frequent and vocal critic of the NFL concussion policy and their current stance on concussions as they relate to the potential onset of mental illness and dementia. But I truly believe that the NFL will ultimately accept their responsibility, make the game safer by better enforcement of safe practices/policies and do the right thing by the injured players.
I also believe that the current owners and commissioner of the NFL do not need nor want to be directly associated with the constant and unlikely to cease vitriol and otherwise divisive and incendiary rhetoric of Rush Limbaugh.
The unit of measure should be consistent.
Would Roger Goodell tolerate such publicly disseminated rhetoric by a NFL coach or player? I believe that the answer is clearly, no. Then why would it or should it be tolerated by a current or prospective owner?
Or is their a different set of standards of personal conduct when it pertains to owners vs. employees?
The NFL, including the commissioner, is better than that.
The NFL spends untold millions promoting its 'brand'. We may soon better understand what type of 'brand' the NFL truly desires to be.
Dave Zirin: My Response to Rush Limbaugh
Yesterday I was referred to on air as "scum" by Rush Limbaugh. I was called out for challenging his efforts to own an NFL team, saying that Limbaugh's history of racial bombast should count against him.
Morris W. O'Kelly: Limbaugh in the NFL Would Be Bad Business
I'm not sure the NFL is ready to stomach the hatemail the next time Limbaugh compares the Democrats to Nazis, but like it or not...as an owner he would represent the NFL.
Jeff Cohen: Limbaugh's Racist Rhetoric Coming Home to Roost
With Rush Limbaugh trying to become co-owner of the St. Louis Rams, his racially divisive commentary over the last 20 years -- some as fresh as last month -- is surfacing.
Len Berman: Top 5 Sports Stories
When the Washington Redskins play Kansas City Sunday it will mark their sixth straight game against a winless team. Despite the cupcake schedule, Washington is 2 and 3.
Now, Limbaugh can claim, on his show as he is doing now, that he is a victim, jst like all the other maligned, misunderstood angry white people out there.
On Hardball Al Sharpton and Pat Buchanan were at it hammer and tong over this very issue, the issue of poor white guy being discrminated against.
And for those who don't get it, lets reduce it to numbers:
Number of times Limbaugh tries to buy pro sports team: 1
Number of times Limbaugh tries to stoke culture wars: 10 billion.
Please don't tell me this was just some rich guy looking to invest in something.
I do not like Limbaugh...at all.
But the NFL does not have a consistent stance on conduct and speech...they reinstated Micheal Vick,
which set the bar at conduct to a new historic low.
Complaining about Limbaugh's conduct and speech vis-a-vis the NFL?
Please.