Should teams be more reponsible?

[D.C.]

In the past couple of years we are seemingly seeing more and more players getting arrested off the field and we are seeing rather ugly incidents on the field (Olshanski, Haynesworth etc) and for th most part the punishments given aren't that extreme. Personally, I am quite frustrated at seeing guys arrested for stupid things (DUI's etc). It really ruins the enjoyment I used to get from watching the games (I used to be more of a football fan, now I've become more of an Eagles fan).

Anyway, I was watching ESPN and they were talking to David Stern about the NBA brawl over the weekend and he mentioned that the teams would be [financially] punished for the behaviour of their players on the court.
My question is should teams that decide to draft players of questionable background be held finacially responsible if the players err on or off the field?

[brady_branch]

Not the teams. At least not for a first offense. Lots of people get DUIs, and it isn't the fault of their boss for employing them. Now, if it gets to be a Tank Johnson-type scenario, then maybe the team should be punished.

[redlegsfan21]

I think the NFL should take control of punishment instead of teams. You see what the Bengals and Bears do, they suspend them for a game that could be easily won without that player.

[football junkie]

It seems like Roger Goodell wants more say in the process. I'm not really sure what the current collective bargaining agreement codifies on this matter.

I kind of thought the commish already had the authority to suspend players if so desired. I could be wrong.

If Goodell doesn't already have that power he could try to flex the next time the CBA comes up for negotiation -- that is if he can find Gene Upshaw's leash!

[Fumble]

Also, I think the reason you see/hear about this sort of behavior is due to the media and that strive to prove even famous people have flaws.

Are you telling me that players from the 70's and even 80's were not pulled over for DWIs?

hmz... i find that hard to believe... I just think in todays world they no longer just get a slap on the hand, and be required to give an autograph to the cops child to let it slide...