NFL Picks Week 14, Thursday Edition: 'Greek' says ...

by The Greek! on Dec 4, 2008 4:00 PM EST in News Comment 2 comments

With all the Plaxico talk there have been a lot of noteworthy events that have been glossed over, one of which ties in nicely with the recent suspension of Burress and juxtaposes the NFL with other leagues out there. Burress, of course, has been suspended by the Giants for conduct detrimental to the team. He got a four-game suspension for carrying a weapon illegally, a felony, and now has the players’ union fighting to get his suspension reduced. While all this has been happening a former New York athlete has also been suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.

Sean Avery, the former NY Ranger and current Dallas star was suspended by the NHL for comments prior to a game in Calgary about other players wanting his "sloppy seconds." The full story can be found here.

I know this is more of a hockey post than a football one, but the difference in league conduct and expectations is startling. Almost every day we are bombarded by NFL players talking trash, whether mic’d up on the field or sitting down with a member of the media. The NFL not only allows this talk, but basically encourages it. The NHL, a struggling league that has a national TV contract on what amounts to a regional cable network in Versus, is taking their version of TO or Chad Johnson, and not only silencing him, but possibly ending his career.

For those of you that don’t follow hockey, probably 95% or so based on TV ratings, Avery is a jerk. Always has been, probably always will be. But to suspend him indefinitely for this comment is ludicrous. The NHL is mired in poor management starting with Commissioner Gary Bettman and although the NFL may have gone too far in allowing their players to do and say nearly anything they want, the NHL has gone way too far in the other direction. If hockey ever wants to climb back into the national conversation and be recognized as a major sport once again, they need to move away from some of their overbearing policies for players, and allow them to be themselves and create an identity that has some crossover appeal.

Oakland at San Diego (-9.5)

Last Week: 7-9
Season: 97-90-5

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Matt Jones

is still playing despite being caught cutting up cocaine with a credit card in his car.

Sean Avery gets suspended for making a phrase that 17-year olds are too mature to use.

Avery was stupid for what he said, but the fact that he got suspended is ludicrous.

by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Dec 5, 2008 6:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry but you miss the point

The suspension was for more than just this comment: Avery has a history of acting unprofessionally on and off the ice and this was the last straw.

Furthermore, the comment was essentially incitement. You call it trash talk, but the NFL is a well regulated league where fights and the such are rare. In the NHL, Avery would have gotten demolished by Phaneuf or another Calgary Flame. Since the last thing the NHL wants is another violent incident (e.g. Marty McSorely high sticking Donald Brashear’s face from behind, Tie Domi throwing an elbow into Scott Niedermayer’s face at the end of a playoff game, Todd Bertuzzi breaking Steve Moore’s neck), it was right to sit Avery. And he isn’t well liked by his current team or others; the Stars were looking to waive him or trade him away prior to this statement.. He has a reputation for being an ass and he’s essentially locker room poison. Essentially, between the incitement and his past history, it was the last straw.

As far the state of the league is concerned, the NHL set new records in revenue and total attendance last season. We’re doing quite fine even if you don’t think we are a major league.

by John Fischer on Dec 6, 2008 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs