Maybe Goodell isn't such a good guy after all

by Ed Valentine on Feb 18, 2008 6:10 AM EST in News Comment 7 comments

Roger Goodell enjoyed a tremendous first year as NFL commissioner. He was widely lauded for his tough-guy stance in cleaning up off-the-field behavior, and for taking a draft pick from the New England Patriots in the wake of Spygate.

Goodell was the new sheriff in town, walking tall, carrying a big stick and re-writing the rules to clean up his league's image.

The honeymoon, though, appears to be over.

First, Goodell found himself in the crosshairs of Sen. Arlen Specter after the revelation that Spygate went much deeper than a little taping of the New York Jets' signals. He looks especially bad trying to explain why he arrogantly burned the Spygate evidence.

Now comes an accusation from Kathy Urbanski, wife of Tommy Urbanski, paralyzed in the nightclub shooting incident allegedly sparked by PacMan Jones, that the league has abandoned the Urbanskis despite promises to help them cover their mounting medical costs.

Goodell, of course, was lauded for dealing harshly with Jones, whom he suspended for the 2007 season.

The Urbanskis, though, say the league has refused to help them pay the millions of dollars in medical fees they will accumulate, despite an initial offer of help.

Goodell sounds like a typical heartless, arrogant corporate curmudgeon when he discusses the Urbanskis.

"I'm sorry about the tragedy the family is going through, but I don't feel we have any responsibility," Goodell said.

Legally, Goodell is right. He and the NFL don't HAVE to do anything for the Urbanskis.

Yet, morally, he is as far off as he can be, especially if he did initially offer help. Maybe the NFL doesn't owe the Urbanskis anything. Maybe the couple is looking for a rich sugar-daddy to make their financial troubles disappear. Maybe there are bad feelings because the Urbanskis filed a civil suit to get help from the league.

The NFL is, of course, rich beyond imagination. Helping the Urbanskis defray their costs, even footing the entire bill, wouldn't even dent the league's overflowing coffers.

Goodell, though, won't lift a finger. It doesn't directly affect his product, his league's image, his corporate bottom line.

Whether you think the NFL bears any responsibility for Tommy Urbanski's injuries or not, helping that devastated family is the right thing for Goodell to do.

If he doesn't see that, shame on him.

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I disagree.

I think the key here is "help" versus "free ride". It appears Goodell and the NFL were offering to hold a charity event on their behalf and the Urbanskis felt that wasn't enough, a lawsuit was filed, and then the NFL withdrew any help at that point.

The NFL shouldn't be financially held accountable for their players' conduct off the field, any more than the multi-national company I work for should.

Also, I don't know if I would say Goodell was "widely lauded" for even his initial handling of the Spygate situation. Opinions from the national media seemed 50/50 on that, from my perspective.

by rzor on Feb 18, 2008 10:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think

this is a special circumstance under which the NFL should do something for this family. Not that they should pay everything, but they can't turn a cold shoulder.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 18, 2008 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why would you expect Goodell

to take care of the Urbanskis when the league he oversees doesn't even give a shit about its former players whose past heroics help build the foundation for the multi-billion dollar enterprise that is today's NFL.

The growing number of stories of retired NFL players afflicted with lifelong football related injuries and disorders who receive little or no financial assistance from the NFL is sickening. Even worse, is the indifference of Goodell and the NFLPA to their plight. Fortunately, more and more former players - such as ex-Giant great Harry Carson - are working hard to bring this issue into the public eye.

That Goodell and the league won't lift a finger to assist the Urbanskis is disturbing. But that they turn the same blind eye to those to whom they owe so much of their present success is shameful and despicable. Should make every fan think twice before criticizing a player for holding out for that extra million or two when negotiating their contract. From the sound of things, they're going to need every penny of it some day.

by knickfan on Feb 18, 2008 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Former players

Like you, I thought about that aspect of the whole sad mess after I wrote the initial piece. You are right that the league's treatment of former players is shameful.

by Ed Valentine on Feb 18, 2008 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that the NFL

has turned a blind eye towards a lot of its veterans, but you can't really blame Goodell for that, considering this was his first year. That blame has to go in big part to Rozelle, since he was the overseer when a lot of these guys were playing and retiring, and to Tagliabue for not doing anything about it for years.

by cjmulrain on Feb 18, 2008 10:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While it's true

that much of the blame for this fiasco should be laid at the feet of Goodell's predecessors, the current commissioner has not exactly been front and center on this issue.

This issue has been festering beneath the surface for a long time now. But it's only been in the last year or two that it's really started getting the widespread attention it deserves. So while he may not be the one primarily to blame for the situation, Commissioner Goodell is now the one at the eye of the storm. His failure to publicly acknowledge that the problem even exists is disgraceful.

Yes, it's a difficult problem that will undoubtedly require a costly solution. I know it won't happen overnight. But, at the very least, Goodell needs to step up and do the right thing by both recognizing the contributions made by former players and by giving them his assurance that their concerns will be addressed in a reeal and meaningful way.

by knickfan on Feb 18, 2008 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Amen!

Kudo's to Ditka and any others who are championing the cause of the old players who suffer the agony of their injuries from the game.

I watched Bryant Gumbull's Real Sports show last week. It was pitiful to watch an ex Chief and his wife dig through the change jar to try to scrounge up enough money to take him to therapy.
The guy can hardly walk! A fund has to be set up for this!

by giant fan since 57 on Feb 18, 2008 6:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs