NFL and punishment

Let me start by saying, I'm biased on this topic, but it's my blog, my opinion and I'm a'right with that!

The NFL handed down punishment today for "Bounty-Ball."  For those who don't follow the sport and know what this is, quite simply it's the New Orleans Saints who (over the course of 3 years including a Super Bowl winning year) paid players an incentive to "knock out, cart off the field, or make harder than normal hits" on opposing players and typically an added incentive for the other teams star offensive player (like Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, etc...).  This was initiated by the teams Defensive Coordinator, Greg Williams.  We're talking 10's of thousands of dollars over the course of a game, season, and especially playoffs. The head coach and general manager as well as some assistant coaches were aware and in some cases may have participated. Football is a violent sport. If we're being honest, that is part of the appeal for most fans.  For men in particular it's part of the machismo that you associate with it.  It's our version of a modern day gladiator arena with civility--no casualties: at least on the field.

The NFL came down harder than most experts and fans thought would happen.  The head coach was suspended for an entire season, the GM 1/2 a season, an assistant 6 games, the initiator Greg Williams got an indefinite suspension lasting at least a full season and the Saints team lost 2 2nd round picks.  Severe but by all accounts appropriate. 

Several years ago, the New England Patriots were caught during a game filming their opposing teams sideline.  By all accounts they were able to see plays being called, spy on personnel and other strategic advantages.  They were caught by a former employee who was now the head coach of the opposing team.  He knew what was going on because he was involved when he worked for the team.  The investigation showed the team had a library of tapes they've compiled over the years.  The punishment?  The team lost 1 first round draft pick and the coach was fined $500,000 (he was making over $5 million per season at the time).

At first you may think "that's two different things. Paying players to go out and lay wood to a guy on the field is different than taping a team's sideline."  If you look at the definition of "cheat", "advantage" and "bounty" see if you feel the same.

ad·van·tage: A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.

Cheat:  Act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, esp. in a game or examination

Bounty: A reward, inducement, or payment, especially one given by a government for acts deemed beneficial to the state...

In the NFL if you take a banned substance you get a 4 game suspension--rationale is you could be potentially getting an undue advantage over others. 

If you place a bounty on other players for knocking star players out of the game, there's a 6 game to an indefinite suspension, loss of draft picks, and the result of millions of dollars in lost pay for suspended coaches (players involved have not been suspended...yet)

If you are the New England Patriots and get caught filming your opposing teams illegally over the course of years in 'order to gain an advantage, give yourself conditions favorable' than your opponent...you get a loss of 1 draft pick and a $500K fine...

 My disclaimer: As a Raiders fan we got jobbed with the Tuck Rule: cost my team a chance at another Super Bowl and the Patriots spring boarded to their first of 3 in 4 years.  Yea I think they get favorable treatment, but for the life of me I don't know why.

There are many ways to affect someones livelihood.  If you take a banned substance that will make you stronger and faster than me who isn't, then you have a better chance of taking my job.  If you know what play or personnel I'm putting in (offense or defense) you have a better chance of being successful against me and taking away winning opportunities from me.  If you incentivize others to take cheap or borderline shots at me or people who help me do my job, you affect me irrevocably. 

Two wrongs don't make a right, but inconsistency causes division.  Maybe it's just me!