National Football League controversies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Football League (NFL) is the premier professional American football league in the United States, and is also one of the major North American professional sports leagues. However, the NFL is not without its share of controversies. Throughout history, everything from questionable championship rulings to team relocation decisions to allegedly criminal behavior by players has been part of the conversation surrounding the NFL. Many of the recent controversies have surrounded NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, player conduct,[1] and/or the league's role in player safety.[2]

1925 NFL Championship[]

Main article: 1925 NFL Championship controversy

The 1925 NFL Championship, officially held by the Chicago Cardinals, has been the subject of controversy since it was awarded. Under the league rules during that time, the NFL title was automatically given to the team with the best record at the end of the season instead of having the winner be determined by a playoff tournament. There was an open-ended schedule during that season; although the final listed league games ended on December 6, teams could still schedule contests against each other through December 20 to make more money.

The Pottsville Maroons were one of the dominant teams of the 1925 season, and after defeating the Cardinals on December 6, came away with the best record in the league. However, NFL commissioner Joseph Carr suspended and removed the Maroons from the NFL after they played an unauthorized exhibition game in Philadelphia, on the grounds that they had violated the territorial rights of the Frankford Yellow Jackets. The Cardinals played and won two more games against weak NFL opponents, giving them a superior record, and were awarded the title.

Pottsville supporters argue that the suspension was illegitimate, and that the Maroons, who were reinstated the next year, would have had the superior record had they not been suspended. Others[who?] claim that Chicago was the legitimate champions based on the rules of the time. The NFL has investigated Pottsville's case on two occasions, both times upholding its decision that the Cardinals are the 1925 champions.

Team relocation controversies[]

Main article: National Football League franchise moves and mergers

Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis[]

Main article: Baltimore Colts relocation to Indianapolis

The Baltimore Colts were moved to Indianapolis by owner Robert Irsay in 1984, after multiple years of lobbying to renovate or replace the decrepit Memorial Stadium, including talks of a "Baltodome".[3] In 1982, the Hoosier Dome (later called the RCA Dome) was built in Indianapolis, increasing interest in a move by the Colts. Eventually, the Colts moved to Indianapolis with the help of the moving company Mayflower Transit, who did so at night to confuse the Maryland State Police and fans.[4]

Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore[]

Main article: Cleveland Browns relocation controversy

Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell decided to move the Browns to Baltimore, 12 years after the Colts moved away from the city. After backlash from the fans,[5] the team and the NFL decided on a special compromise: Modell could relocate the Browns to Baltimore, but would play as an "expansion team", and the Browns would go into a state of "suspended operations". Modell's new team would eventually be named the Baltimore Ravens.[6] In 1999, the Cleveland Browns returned to the league as an expansion team. Similar agreements would eventually be used for the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA in their relocation to Oklahoma City to become the Oklahoma City Thunder,[7] along with the San Jose Earthquakes in their move to become the Houston Dynamo (a new Earthquakes team eventually returned).[8]

St. Louis Rams move to Los Angeles[]

On April 13, 1995, Stan Kroenke helped Georgia Frontiere move the Los Angeles Rams from Anaheim to St. Louis by purchasing a 30% share of the team.[9]

In April 2010, as a majority stock holder, Kroenke said: "I'm going to attempt to do everything that I can to keep the Rams in St. Louis. Just as I did everything that I could to bring the team to St. Louis in 1995. I believe my actions speak for themselves."[10]

In August 2010, Stan Kroenke purchased the Rams using a Right of first refusal clause in the last minute of bidding, beating a high bid from Shahid Khan.[11]

In February 2013, the Rams and the City of St. Louis went to arbitration over a clause in the Rams lease that stated the Rams current stadium must be in the top tier of NFL Stadiums. The arbitrators agreed with the Rams, giving the Rams the ability to break their original lease and go to a year to year lease agreement.[12] On January 5, 2015, it was announced that the Kroenke Group was teaming up with Stockbridge Capital Group to build a 70,000 seat NFL stadium and venue in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, threatening the Rams' future in St. Louis. In response, St. Louis countered with National Car Rental Field, a proposed open-air stadium in the north riverfront in downtown St. Louis with the hope of the Rams staying in St. Louis.[13] The fanbase in St. Louis felt it was not being treated fairly—in 2014 the St. Louis Rams had 86% attendance despite a 6-10 record and 10 prior years of non-win seasons,[14] forcing fans and local sportswriters to question the integrity of the NFL and Kroenke for even considering the Los Angeles plans.[15] St. Louis officials felt they were not receiving fair treatment either as Kroenke had no talks or discussions with city officials, who have expressed interest in keeping the team in St. Louis. In a radio interview, Kroenke was labeled as "enemy number one" in his home state due to his uncanny willingness to cooperate.[16] NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also stated that St. Louis funding did not meet the criteria set by the NFL, even though St. Louis offered a stadium plan lacking 100 million dollars, but then ultimately gave 300m to Oakland and San Diego for their markets.[17] On January 4, 2016, all three teams applied for relocation to Los Angeles for the 2016 NFL season.[13] The following day, the Rams and Stan Kroenke released their proposal for relocation. Some of the Rams' conclusions were disputed by the Mayor of St. Louis Francis Slay (in a letter to Roger Goodell),[18] The St. Louis Regional Chamber,[19] and Forbes.[20]

On January 12, 2016, the NFL approved the Rams' application to relocate from St. Louis back to Los Angeles with a 30-2, although the move was generally considered malicious by fans in St. Louis citing how the NFL had its hand in the pot the whole time and St. Louis had a stadium plan in place.[21][22]

The following day, officials were pondering Stan Kroenke's removal from the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.[23]

The initial $200 million as a standard part of the NFL's G4 stadium loan, plus the additional $100 requested from St. Louis totaled $300 million which the NFL ultimately deemed inadequate, was then granted to Oakland and San Diego to maintain their respected teams.[24]

On January 14, 2016, at a St. Louis Blues game, the St. Louis Cardinals Owner and Blues Owner dropped a puck together to celebrate the "best sports city in America", as the crowd chanted "Kroenke sucks!"[25]

It was reported by many sources that the Rams, although changing their name and city to Los Angeles, were still trying to get players to sign contracts with Missouri as the state of their employer, suspected in part with the relaxed Workers Rights laws in Missouri vs. the much stricter California laws. The NFL Players union has told all agents to not accept any contracts until the verbiage is changed for the Rams to be a California employer.[26]

On March 14, 2016 prior St. Louis Rams COO , expressed gratitude for the St. Louis Rams going on a losing streak in 2015 to give the relocation team more time to calculate a move to LA quoted with saying - "we went on a four game losing streak in the middle of November. So, we went from being in the playoff hunt and having a seed to out of the playoff hunt. That allowed us to have more time to talk about this, to put things together."[27]

Demoff, who was born in Los Angeles, joined the St. Louis Rams in 2009 just weeks before Stan Kroenke gained majority leader. Demoff also ran the Los Angeles Avengers, an Arena Football league in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. Demoff was quoted as saying - "the league has handed Stan and the Rams their greatest opportunity in the last two decades: entry into L.A." suggesting the league had a large role in the relocation process.[28]

On April 12, 2017 it was reported that the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and the filed a 52-page lawsuit against the NFL and all 32 NFL clubs as defendants (including Stan Kroenke) and seeks damages and restitution of profits.[29]

Player conduct[]

Main article: National Football League player conduct controversy

In 2007, Roger Goodell became commissioner, and instituted a player conduct policy to help control off-field behavior by players.[30] Goodell was criticized for stripping teams of draft picks and for punishing Adam Jones and Chris Henry, despite Adam Jones not being convicted.[31]

The problem with the NFL's conduct policy is that it was designed not to halt off-field troubles as much as to squelch a looming public relations disaster that came after players like Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones were arrested two years ago. The policy was not an iron-clad set of rules and consequences but rather a fluid concept in which Commissioner Roger Goodell hands out punishment on a case-by-case basis.

— The Washington Post[32]

Notable criminal NFL cases[]

  • Jovan Belcher, murder
  • Rae Carruth, murder
  • Cecil Collins, burglary
  • Mark Chmura, sexual assault (not proven guilty)
  • Jim Dunaway, murder
  • Dwayne Goodrich, homicide
  • Greg Hardy, domestic violence
  • Thomas Henderson, sexual assault
  • Darryl Henley, drug trafficking
  • Travis Henry, drug trafficking
  • Aaron Hernandez, murder
  • Kareem Hunt, domestic violence
  • Sam Hurd, drug trafficking
  • Michael Irvin, sexual assault, drug possession (not proven guilty)
  • Adam Jones, drug possession, illegal gambling, coercion, threat to life
  • Ryan Leaf, burglary, drug trafficking
  • Ray Lewis, murder (not proven guilty)
  • Leonard Little, manslaughter by driving under the influence of alcohol
  • Eric Naposki, murder
  • Nate Newton, marijuana possession and trafficking
  • Adrian Peterson, negligent injury to a child
  • Lawrence Phillips, domestic violence, aggravated assault, criminal threat, illegal weapons, murder
  • Ray Rice, domestic violence
  • Robert Rozier, murder
  • Darrell Russell, substance abuse
  • Darren Sharper, rape
  • O. J. Simpson (several years after retirement from the NFL), double murder (not proven guilty), aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, money laundering, drug possession
  • Donte Stallworth, DUI manslaughter
  • Michael Vick, illegal gambling, unlawful dog fighting, animal abuse
  • Kellen Winslow II, rape, burglary
  • Keith Wright, armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary

Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal[]

Main article: Minnesota Vikings boat party scandal

On Lake Minnetonka in 2005, 17 Minnesota Vikings players (Daunte Culpepper, Fred Smoot, Mewelde Moore, Pat Williams, Bryant McKinnie, Nate Burleson, Ralph Brown, Troy Williamson, Travis Taylor, Kevin Williams, Jermaine Wiggins, Lance Johnstone, Moe Williams, Ken Irvin, and Willie Offord) were accused of throwing a sex party on a boat, with most of the players partaking in sexual intercourse. Fred Smoot was allegedly the ringleader of the party, and allegedly pushed a double-headed dildo into the vaginas of two women who were lying on the floor in the lounge area. After one of them left the party, he continued to "manipulate the dildo" inside the other woman.[33] Later, on October 19, 2005, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, in a reportedly profanity-laced tirade, threatened to remove players from the roster who were involved in the planning of the party.[34] Eventually, Culpepper, McKinnie, Smoot and Moe Williams were charged with indecent, disorderly, and lascivious conduct.[35]

Michael Vick investigation[]

Main article: Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation
Further information: Timeline of the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation
Investigators said that Michael Vick's dog fighting ring started in 2001 when he bought his house, and continued through 2007.

In 2006, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was involved in a dog fighting ring, and over seventy dogs, with most of them being pit bull terriers, with some said to be showing signs of injuries, were seized, along with physical evidence during several searches of Vick's 15-acre (61,000 m2) property by local, state and federal authorities. During the investigation, Vick was revealed to be working with four others (Tony Taylor, Purnell Anthony Peace, Quanis Lavell Philips, and Oscar Allen). Eventually, they were convicted for "Conspiracy in interstate commerce/aid of unlawful animal cruelty venture". On September 13, Vick tested positive for marijuana, and was ordered by federal judge Henry E. Hudson to "submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance", and before getting sent to prison, Vick was placed under house arrest.[36] After spending time at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia awaiting his trial, on December 10, Vick was given 23 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of probation. Vick was later placed in United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth until 2009. Vick was later released by the Falcons, and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.[37]

Banned substances[]

Further information: Steroid use in American football

Players' usage of steroids has been forbidden by the league since 1987, with players testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs being suspended without pay for four games for the first offense (a quarter of the regular season), eight games for a second offense (half of the regular season), and 12 months for a third offense.[38] This policy has been praised by some[39] and criticized by others.[40] In 2006, former San Diego Chargers player Shawne Merriman tested positive for steroids, and was given a 4-game suspension. The incident later led to the "Merriman Rule", forbidding players who tested positive for PEDs from participating in the Pro Bowl.[41][42] Another popular drug in recent years amongst players has been the emergence of the amphetamine Adderall. Multiple players, particularly defensive backs, have been suspended for testing positive for the substance.[43] Adderall is believed to heighten focus and attention and to allow for quicker thought and reaction time, potentially giving a player an advantage.

On December 27, 2015, Al Jazeera America released a report conducted by the Al Jazeera Investigative Unit investigating professional athletes' use of Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) which named Peyton Manning, among other prominent athletes, as having received illegal drugs from Charles Sly, a pharmacist who had worked at the Guyer Anti-Aging Clinic in Indianapolis during the fall of 2011. The report involved Liam Collins, a British hurdler, going undercover in an attempt to obtain banned substances from Sly and other medical professionals. The report claimed that Manning's wife, Ashley, had been shipped off-label human growth hormone (HGH) by the Guyer Institute during the fall of 2011 while Manning was out with a severe neck injury, with the intention of hiding that Manning was the one actually receiving the drugs.[44][45][46] Al Jazeera reported on January 3, 2016, that they were in contact with a second source, who was "impeccably placed, knowledgeable[sic], and credible" and was a former employee at the Guyer Institute, which confirms Sly's allegation that HGH was sent to Ashley Manning.[47][48] On February 5, 2016, it was confirmed that Ashley Manning did receive shipments from the Guyer Institute, but refused to confirm that the shipments had included HGH.[49]

On July 25, 2016, the NFL claimed that it could not find 'credible evidence' that Manning used human growth hormone in violation of its policies.[50]

Domestic violence[]

See also:Athletes and domestic violence#American Football

According to a database compiled by USA Today in 2014, 85 of the 713 arrests of NFL players since 2000 were due to domestic violence.[51] On September 8, 2014, TMZ Sports released a video of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his fiancée and dragging her unconscious body out of an elevator led to a two-game suspension.[52] Criticism of the league's policy towards domestic violence led the league to adopt six-game bans for violations of its domestic violence policy.[53] Additional scrutiny was directed towards players who were convicted of domestic violence but were still allowed to play. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was accused of assaulting an ex-girlfriend in June 2014. He was disciplined by neither his team nor the NFL and has been allowed to continue playing.[54] 16 female U.S. Senators urged the league to adopt a zero tolerance policy towards domestic violence.[55] Shortly after the aforementioned incidents, there were a number of PSAs led by NOMORE.org and over a dozen former and current NFL players that aired during NFL games. The purpose of the PSAs were to promote the NOMORE.org campaign of saying no more to domestic violence and raising awareness about the problems surrounding domestic violence.[56]

Player politics[]

The NFL has received polarized opinions related to certain political agendas. For example:

  • The NFL denied the Dallas Cowboys request to honor fallen police officers in wake of the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers.[57]
  • In 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the National Anthem in protest of police violence, which led to widespread controversy surrounding the national anthem.[58]
  • The NFL initially stated they would fine players for wearing September 11 attacks tribute cleats, which the NFL ultimately did not do due to backlash.[59]
  • As mentioned above, during the 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons, many NFL players from all 32 NFL teams have protested during the national anthem due to police brutality, racial inequality, and other controversies around the nation surrounding politics and authority. Players have been caught on camera kneeling, sitting, staying in the locker rooms, and raising their fists while the national anthem was played before kickoffs of games. This led to dropped ratings throughout the NFL, with most fans and critics calling the protests disrespectful[citation needed]. Many videos on YouTube showed fans showing their anger towards players by burning merchandise such as hats, jersies, pictures, and other things. Though the incidents have died down during the 2018 season, they still continue to happen throughout the league. Aside from the NFL, other sports leagues have joined in the protests, such as high school football. This led to President Donald Trump lamenting "Get that son of a bitch off of the field right now! He's gone! He's fired! Fired!" This line has been both praised and criticized by fans and media alike, with some agreeing that anyone who kneels should be banned, while others say it is too harsh. Ultimately, in 2018, the NFL introduced a policy revolving around the issue.

Sexual assault lawsuits[]

There have been several cases of high-profile sexual assault lawsuits filed against prominent NFL players. These lawsuits have varied in severity of accusation, settlement and punishment, both in court and from the league.

In 1996, while attending the University of Tennessee, quarterback Peyton Manning was accused of sexual assault by trainer Jamie Ann Naughright of pressing his genitals against Naughright's face during a foot examination. Manning claims that he was just pulling a prank by "mooning" another athlete in the room as Naughright bent over to examine him. Both Naughright and the other athlete deny Manning's story. Naughright settled with the university for $300,000 for its alleged failure in four incidents, and resigned from the school. She had initially made a list of 33 complaints about the school.[60] Naughright filed a defamation lawsuit against Peyton Manning and three other parties in 2002. Manning allegedly defamed her in a book he wrote with his father and author John Underwood. The lawsuit was settled after the court ruled there was sufficient evidence for it to be heard by a jury. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed due to confidentiality terms.[61][62]

In 2009 and 2010, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused by two women of sexual assault in separate lawsuits, one in Nevada and the other in the state of Georgia. While the first case was muddled with evidence of the accuser bragging of having consensual sex with Roethlisberger prior to filing suit,[63] the second case in Georgia was left open with conflicting accounts of the victim's testimony and that of law enforcement and Roethlisberger.[64][65][66] Though no criminal charges were ultimately brought up in either case against him, Roethlisberger was nonetheless suspended for the first six (later four) games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL player conduct policy and ordered to undergo a league-mandated "professional behavior evaluation" and "must adhere to any counseling or treatment that is recommended by the professional evaluators."[67]

Coaching controversies[]

Bounty Bowl[]

Main article: Bounty Bowl

In 1989, rivals Philadelphia and Dallas played two games. Later, it was discovered that Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan had placed a bounty on Cowboys and former Eagles kicker Luis Zendejas. Concerns first came around when Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, who allegedly pooled money into a bag, and if any of the Bears defensive players injures a player, he would get the bag.[68] Suspicions started in the game when various fights happened between the two teams, with Zendejas going out of the game with a concussion from a hard tackle by linebacker Jessie Small after a kickoff. After the game, Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Ryan had placed a bounty on two players: Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman, with injuring Aikman being worth possibly $500. However, Ryan dismissed the claims as "high school Charlie stuff".[69] Zendejas later claimed that when he was with the Eagles, a player had once received at least $100–200 each for hits on a kicker and punter, which was the reason why Johnson made the accusation.

In the teams' second meeting, this time in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, the original game set the tone for the second game, especially with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue at the game. Because the snow at the game has yet to be removed, the Eagles' notoriously rowdy fans, with a mixture of beer, the snow, the bounty and the hatred for "America's Team", threw everything within reach at various targets, like back judge Al Jury, who was knocked to the ground by a barrage of snowballs; Cowboys punter Mike Saxon, who was targeted in the end zone; and Johnson, who was hit with snowballs, ice, and beer as he was escorted off the field by Philadelphia police. The Eagles won both contests, winning the first game 27-0, and the second 20-10.[70]

2007 National Football League videotaping controversy: "Spygate"[]

Main article: 2007 National Football League videotaping controversy

Dubbed Spygate, in 2007, despite the New England Patriots going 16-0 for the first time in league history, the team was still in the midst of a controversy surrounding head coach Bill Belichick.[71][72] In the early part of the season, the Patriots were caught videotaping the hand signals of a New York Jets coach from a non-fixed roof covered position, and Belichick was fined a league-high $500,000, and the Patriots were fined $250,000. Additionally, the Patriots lost their first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft (if they made the playoffs), or their second- and third-round picks (if they missed the playoffs).[73] In a widely criticized move, the league destroyed the tapes.[74] However, Belichick and most other coaches were then revealed to have done this in the past until it was stopped by memo from Roger Goodell. Belichick's stance was that the rule does not allow videotaping from a mobile camera and the information then used in the same game. The NFL found that Belichick did not use the tape during the same game, yet penalized him more than any other coach in history.[75] From an unknown source, the Boston Herald published an article stating that Belichick had done this practice with the St. Louis Rams practice before Super Bowl XXXVI, an allegation that Belichick denied. The Boston Herald later printed a retraction to the story, stating that they had been given "bad information".[76] In a statement from Mike Martz, the St. Louis Rams ex-offensive coordinator and coach also recalls that Goodell asked him to write a statement, saying that he was satisfied with the NFL's Spygate investigation and was certain the Patriots had not cheated and asking everyone to move on—like leaders of the Steelers and Eagles had done. A congressional inquiry that would put league officials under oath had to be avoided, Martz recalls Goodell telling him. "If it ever got to an investigation, it would be terrible for the league," Goodell said.[77]

2012 New Orleans Saints bounty scandal[]

Main article: New Orleans Saints bounty scandal

In 2012, the New Orleans Saints were discovered to have run a "slush fund" under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, that paid out bonuses, called "bounties", to purposely injure offensive players that the Saints were playing against. The system was known to have operated during Williams's time in Buffalo[78] and Washington.[79] Rumors started in 2009 during the Saints Super Bowl XLIV run in the 2009 NFC Championship game against the Vikings, where the Saints defense was allegedly trying to hurt Viking quarterback Brett Favre.[80][81] Other than the Vikings, the Saints also allegedly targeted Bears[82] and Carolina Panthers[83] players, and the program became even more notorious in the 2011 NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Francisco 49ers, when filmmaker Sean Pamphilon released audio tapes of Williams telling his players to injure a select group of 49ers, one of them being running back Kendall Hunter, and to knock him out, as well as going after Kyle Williams because of his history of concussions. Williams also told them to injure Vernon Davis' ankles and tear wide receiver Michael Crabtree's ACL. According to Pamphilon, Williams also appeared to put a bounty on quarterback Alex Smith after he told his men to hit Smith in the chin, "then he rubs his thumb against his index and middle fingers -- the cash sign -- and says, 'I got the first one. I got the first one. Go get it. Go lay that motherfucker out.'"[84]

Ultimately, Goodell handed down one of the harshest penalties in league history, by suspending Williams indefinitely, head coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season, interim head coach Joe Vitt for the first six games, and general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games.[85] Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was also suspended for the season, as well as defensive linemen Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith for eight and four games, respectively. Former Saints and then Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita was also suspended for three games.[86] The players' suspensions were later thrown out on appeal.[87]

Player safety[]

Further information: Concussions in American football
Healthy brain (left) and brain with stage IV CTE (right)

There has been widespread controversy over the league's part in player safety. Goodell has fined Lions player Ndamukong Suh for stomping, as well as Steelers linebacker James Harrison for a hard tackle, as well as suspending the 2 players.[88]

The league has also been criticized for its efforts in preventing concussions, in which eight former players have died, and have also had concussions throughout their careers. In 1994, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee in order to study the effects of concussions on players.[89] With the suicide of linebacker Junior Seau in 2012, concerns arose about the connection between player deaths and concussions.[90] As a result, on April 9, 2013, a lawsuit involving 4,100 plaintiffs and 222 consolidated lawsuits against the NFL will be held by a federal court.[91]

In 2005, Bennet Omalu found evidence of CTE in the brain of former Pittsburgh Steelers player Mike Webster. The NFL initially hounded Omalu and tried to force him to withdraw his findings. Since this discovery, however, 91 other former NFL players have been tested for CTE at the VA-BU-CLF Brain bank at Boston University, with 87 of these tests showing signs of CTE.[92] The story of Bennet Omalu has since been made into a major motion picture.

Also, in recent years, the number of ACL tears and other serious knee injuries has gone up, including in 2013 an increase of 64 percent from 2011.[93][94]

Washington Redskins team name[]

Main article: Washington Redskins name controversy

The Washington Redskins were subject to dispute with some in the Native American community for many years claiming the term "redskin" to be derogatory towards Native Americans.[95] However, the issue has since been resolved, as in 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd Protests, Washington announced that the name "Redskins" would be retired. As a result, the team will now be identified as the Washington Football Team until a new name is chosen.

Free agency[]

The league's free agency system originally used a system that was adopted from Major League Baseball, where a player stays with a team until his contract expires, then can negotiate with the team to stay. In 1947, the league adopted the 1-year system, where a team can only renew a player's contract for one year. In 1963, the "Rozelle Rule" was created, where a team that signs a player must compensate for the player's expenses from his previous team. If a team refuses, commissioner Rozelle decided the compensation. The players union found this system to be unfair, and eventually won a court action in 1976. However, the league's collective bargaining agreement still kept the compensation rule, but removed Rozelle's authority. Ultimately, in 1987, the players union went on strike. Two years later, the union sued again, but was prohibited from suing the league for anti-trust. From 1989 to 1992, instead of the current free agent system, the league used a system to acquire and release players called Plan B free agency. The system consisted of teams protecting 37 players, and having the remaining players becoming unrestricted free agents. The players eventually decertified the union, leading to players filing individual lawsuits.[96] However, eight players sued the league for violating their antitrust laws, and calling the system an unfair trade restraint. The system ultimately was deemed illegal by the jury, and was ended in 1992.[97][98] The lawsuit eventually led to the establishment of the current system, which involves the use of a salary cap.[96]

2011 lockout[]

Main article: 2011 NFL lockout

However, in 2011, the league and the National Football League Players Association eventually failed to arrive at a consensus for the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and eventually led to the lockout on March 12.[99] The lockout threatened to cancel games,[100] even though only the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game was cancelled.[101] The lockout eventually ended on July 21 with a new CBA.[102][103]

Referee labor dispute[]

Main article: 2012 NFL referee lockout

In 2012, the league and the NFL Referees Association became involved in a dispute over the collective bargaining agreement between the two parties. Eventually, the league then locked out the officials in June, and turned to replacement officials to officiate the games.[104] A month later, the association filed a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board against the league for unfair labor practices.[105] The replacement referees were met with criticism from fans, players[106] and coaches.[107] Incidents included the week one Seattle Seahawks–Arizona Cardinals game, where the Seahawks were given an extra timeout,[108] week two where side judge Brian Stropolo was removed from the New Orleans Saints–Carolina Panthers game for being a Saints fan,[109] and the controversial ending to the Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks game in week three. In late September, ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen announced that the two groups reached an agreement.[110]

Expansion draft[]

Originally, the NFL did not have an expansion draft, and instead, expansion teams were given whatever players were available; the rules at the time gave these teams two players from each existing franchise and the remainder from the local area to make up a 55-player roster. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were added to the NFL in 1976, their roster ended up being composed mostly of aging veterans and inexperienced rookies, and as a result, Tampa Bay had the first winless season in modern NFL history en route to losing their first 26 games (the longest losing streak in NFL history). After significant public criticism, the NFL created an expansion draft to avoid a repeat of this very poor start for future expansion teams.

Controversial calls[]

See also: Rules named after NFL figures

The league has been criticized for various calls that would later be disputed, and would also lead to a segment on NFL Top 10 called Top Ten Most Controversial Calls.[111] Some of these controversial calls have directly led to rule changes.

Immaculate Reception[]

Main article: Immaculate Reception

In the 1972 AFC Wild Card Game, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders fought to a 7-6 lead for Oakland. With 22 seconds left in the game, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw heaved a pass towards John Fuqua, and Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua at the same time as the ball's arrival. Tatum's hit knocked Fuqua down and the ball flying backwards. Steelers running back Franco Harris, who had been heading downfield in the event that Bradshaw needed another receiver, caught the ball before it hit the ground and ran for the game-winning touchdown. However, fans and critics eventually asked the question: Whom did the ball touch in the Tatum/Fuqua collision? If it hit only Fuqua, the pass would have been illegal under the rules at the time, and Oakland would have won; if it hit Tatum, or both Fuqua and Tatum (in any order), it would have been legal. The rule stated that once an offensive player touches a pass, he is the only offensive player that can catch the pass. However, if a defensive player touches the pass "first, or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one [offensive] player, then all [offensive] players become and remain eligible" to catch the pass.[112][113]

Holy Roller[]

Main article: Holy Roller (American football)

In 1978, the Oakland Raiders were trailing the San Diego Chargers 20-14 with 10 seconds left in the game. Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler took the snap, and saw Chargers linebacker Woodrow Lowe about to sack him. Stabler eventually deliberately fumbled the ball towards San Diego's goal line, where running back Pete Banaszak attempted to recover, but lost his footing and sent the ball closer to the end zone. Tight end Dave Casper attempted to pick it up, but was unable to, and kicked the ball into the end zone, where he recovered it for the game-tying touchdown.[114] This later led to disputes over whether or not Banaszak and Casper intentionally batted the ball forward, which would be a penalty, as well as whether or not Stabler fumbled the ball or threw a forward pass. The play was eventually ruled as legal. The Raiders would then make the extra point to win 21-20.[115] In the ensuing off-season, the league enacted the so-called "Ken Stabler Rule": on fourth down at any time in the game or any down in the final two minutes of a half, if a player fumbles forward, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the ball. If that player's teammate recovers the ball, it is placed back at the spot of the fumble.[116]

1979 AFC Championship[]

Main article: 1979–80 NFL playoffs § AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13

Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1979 AFC Championship Game, the Houston Oilers fell behind 17-10 late in the third quarter. Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini then threw a pass to Mike Renfro, who caught the ball in the back of the end zone. However, though television networks proved that Renfro was inbounds, instant replay was not in use at the time, and the referees ultimately ruled Renfro out of bounds. The Steelers would then score another touchdown and go to Super Bowl XIV.[117] The league would not institute instant replay until 1986.

Music City Miracle[]

Main article: Music City Miracle

The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills squared off in the 1999 AFC Wild Card Game, and the Bills led 16-15 with 16 seconds left in the game. After Bills kicker Steve Christie kicked off to Titans returner Lorenzo Neal, Neal handed the ball to Frank Wycheck, who then threw a forward lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson, who then ran 75 yards for a touchdown and the lead. This then led to officials debating over whether or not Wycheck's pass was a forward pass or a lateral. Referee Phil Luckett then deemed the pass a lateral, giving Tennessee the win.[118]

Bert Emanuel[]

Main article: 1999–2000 NFL playoffs § NFC Championship: St. Louis Rams 11, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6

In the 1999 NFC Championship Game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trailed the St. Louis Rams by 5 points. With 47 seconds left in the game, Buccaneers quarterback Shaun King threw an 11-yard pass to Bert Emanuel, who caught the ball, but had the play overturned after the ball touched the ground, giving the Rams the trip to Super Bowl XXXIV.[117][119] The league then enacted the "Bert Emanuel Rule" after the season: 'the ball can touch the ground during a completed pass as long as the receiver maintains control of the ball.'[120][121]

Bottlegate[]

Main article: Bottlegate

In a regular-season game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars, the Browns were driving down the field for a potential game-winning touchdown in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. After Browns quarterback Tim Couch passed to receiver Quincy Morgan to convert a crucial fourth down, the catch appeared to be bobbled but the referees initially ruled a completion. Couch then spiked the ball with 48 seconds remaining, but the referees subsequently reviewed the previous play and overturned it, despite a rule that stipulated that a play cannot be reviewed after another play has been completed. The controversial decision, which effectively sealed the outcome of the game and eliminated the Browns from the playoffs, angered Browns fans, who started tossing plastic beer bottles onto the field and forced the refs to declare the game over until the league office called and ordered the final 48 seconds, which consisted of two kneeldowns by the Jaguars, to be played.[122]

Tuck Rule[]

Main article: Tuck Rule Game

During a 2001 AFC playoff game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders, the Raiders forced a fumble near the end of the game. The Raiders recovered the fumble, thereby securing their victory. However, the call went into review by the booth, and upon review it was determined to be an incomplete pass due to the tuck rule being applied. Under the rule, if a passer "is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body."[123] The Patriots went on to win the game and ultimately Super Bowl XXXVI. Fans and experts alike have disputed whether the call was correct, and whether the rule should even exist.[124] The tuck rule was later abolished in 2013.

2002 NFC Wild Card Game[]

Main article: 2002–03 NFL playoffs § NFC: San Francisco 49ers 39, New York Giants 38

During the NFC wild card game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, the Giants created a first half lead, which the 49ers overcame by scoring 25 points. Late in the game, the Giants, down by one point, attempted to kick the game-winning field goal with six seconds left. However, long snapper Trey Junkin botched the snap, leading to holder Matt Allen to throw a desperation pass to Rich Seubert, which fell incomplete, giving San Francisco the win. During the play, a penalty was called, but on New York for having an illegal man downfield. However, Seubert had reported as an eligible receiver, but a different Giants player was illegally downfield. The 49ers would also have been penalized for pass interference on defensive end Chike Okeafor for pulling down Seubert, which was not called.[125]

Super Bowl XL[]

Main article: Super Bowl XL § Reaction to officiating

In Super Bowl XL, the Seattle Seahawks were denied a touchdown when officials called penalized Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson for "pushing off" against Pittsburgh Steelers safety Chris Hope during Jackson's touchdown reception in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scored on a quarterback sneak, and Seattle challenged the call, claiming that Roethlisberger did not break the plane of the end zone, but the play was confirmed after a review. In the fourth quarter, Seahawks tackle Sean Locklear was penalized for holding Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans during a long pass. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was also penalized for allegedly making an illegal block during Ike Taylor's interception return.[126] The Steelers would go on to win 21-10.[127] Four years later, referee Bill Leavy issued an apology to the Seahawks.[128]

2012 Packers–Seahawks game[]

Main article: Fail Mary

On September 24, 2012, the Green Bay Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. With the NFL and the league's regular referees locked in a contract dispute, replacement officials were acquired to call the games for the first 3 weeks. As in previous games, there were many questionable calls made by the replacement officials during the game. In the 4th quarter, with only 8 seconds left in the game, the Packers were winning 12-7, with the Seahawks inside the 30-yard line, with one last play to decide the game. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone. The pass ended up being caught by both Seahawks receiver Golden Tate and Packers defensive back M. D. Jennings. The two officials standing near the play each made their own call of the play. One official seemed to raise his arms to signal a Packers interception, while the other official raised his arms to signal a Seahawks touchdown. As with new NFL rules on instant replay, all touchdowns were liable to official review. The play was reviewed, while the Seahawks crowded the field in celebration. After a few minutes, full of controversy, the officials declared the play's ruling stood as a Seahawks touchdown, giving Seattle a 14–12 win.[129]

Almost instantly, controversy reigned as replays showed that before the catch, Tate pushed off Packers defender Sam Shields, but the officials missed an offensive pass interference penalty call on Tate that would have disallowed the score and ensured a Packers victory. As pass interference is not reviewable, the replay officials (who were not replacements) could only review the simultaneous catch ruling. After they upheld the simultaneous possession as a completion in favor of the Seahawks, the controversy surrounding the play led to a plausible disdain from not only irate Packers fans but also NFL fans in general. It was reported that in the hours after the game, the NFL commissioner's office received over 70,000 voice-mails regarding the play. The controversy even drew remarks from people outside of football, as basketball player LeBron James and professional golfer Bubba Watson both sent messages via Twitter giving their own criticism on the play.[130] NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. stated that the season had been "stained in a way that's irreparable".[131] Earnhardt would later make comments about Super Bowl XLVII saying that "the game could be pretty close".

2018 NFC Championship[]

Main article: 2018 NFC Championship Game

The 2018 NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints involved a controversial call in which Rams defender Nickell Robey-Coleman collided with Tommylee Lewis of the Saints on a pass from Drew Brees late in the game. Robey-Coleman was not flagged on the play, but several commentators and Saints fans complained that one should have been thrown for pass interference on Robey-Coleman. Had the penalty been thrown, the Saints would have been given a fresh set of downs and would have been able to run the clock down to the final seconds to be in position to kick the game-winning field goal. Instead, the Saints kicked the field goal from there to go ahead 23–20 with a little under two minutes to go. The Rams kicked a field goal to tie the game in regulation time and send it into overtime, where they would win 26–23 on another field goal following a Brees interception. After the game, the NFL came under fire for its rule surrounding pass interference penalties, with some commentators calling the no-call among the worst in league history.[citation needed] The day after the game, an online petition was filed by Saints fans to convince the NFL to replay the final couple of minutes because of the incident. Another day later, the Saints filed a lawsuit against the NFL due to the call. Many outlets dubbed the call the worst of the 2018 season and amongst the worst in football history.[132][133] All arguments about the call fell on deaf ears, and the Rams went on to Super Bowl LIII, where they lost 13-3 to the New England Patriots.

Deflategate[]

Main article: Deflategate

On January 18, 2015, the New England Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game. Prior to and during the game, the Colts accused the Patriots of underinflating their footballs. Following a five-month investigation, the NFL announced on May 11, 2015 that quarterback Tom Brady would be suspended without pay for four games of the upcoming NFL season for more probably than not being generally aware that someone possibly deflated some of the balls after the referee tested them. The rules at the time called for a warning to be issued and a possible fine for this infraction. If a player continued, after being warned, to break this rule during the game, the player was to be thrown out of the game. The Patriots were also fined $1 million and were forced to forfeit their first round selection in the 2016 NFL draft and their fourth round selection in the 2017 NFL draft.[134][135]

On May 14, 2015, the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) filed an appeal of Brady's four-game suspension.[136]

On July 28, 2015, the NFL announced the upholding of Brady's four-game suspension.[137]

After NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension in an internal appeal, a federal court case on the matter was started. On September 3, 2015, Judge Richard M. Berman ruled to vacate Goodell's four game suspension of Brady, due to absence of "...the requisites of fairness and due process."[138] On April 25, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned Judge Berman's decision to vacate Brady's suspension by a 2-1 majority.[139] After the en banc petition was rejected,[140] Brady announced he will not pursue further appeals.[141]

National Football League on television[]

The NFL's status as a prime offering by the networks has led some to conclude that unbiased coverage of the league is not possible, although this may be true of most sports. However, with the current concentration of media ownership in the U.S., the league essentially has broadcast contracts with four media companies (ViacomCBS, Comcast, Fox Corporation, and The Walt Disney Company) that own a combined vast majority of the American broadcast and cable networks.

ESPN[]

In 2011, ESPN agreed to a deal with the NFL worth more than $15 billion.[142] This fact led several media organizations, including Forbes, to argue whether the financial relationship with the league creates a conflict of interest when ESPN covers the NFL.[143]

For example, ESPN attempted to run a dramatic series showing steamier aspects of pro football, Playmakers, but canceled the series after the league reportedly threatened to exclude the network from the next set of television contracts. The network also withdrew its partnership with the PBS series Frontline on the 2013 documentary "League of Denial", which chronicles the history of head injuries in the NFL, shortly after a meeting between ESPN executives and league commissioner Roger Goodell took place in New York City, though ESPN denies pressure from the NFL led to its backing out of the project, claiming a lack of editorial control instead.[144][145]

Then in July 2015, The Hollywood Reporter reported that sources within ESPN believed that the NFL gave them a "terrible" 2015 Monday Night Football schedule as "payback" for remarks made on air by both ESPN commentators Keith Olbermann and Bill Simmons that were critical of the league and Goodell;[146] ESPN parted ways with both Olbermann and Simmons during that same year.[147]

2016 NFL ratings[]

The NFL has been a long-standing powerhouse in the television and advertising marketplace, but since about the beginning of the 2016 season, the NFL's ratings have begun to drop. Speculation about the unexpected rating drops covers a myriad of possibilities,[148] including:

  • the above-mentioned problems with concussions and off-field player conduct (the latter being a problem that has also plagued the NBA)
  • reduced feelings of authentic competition due to rapidly-increasing number of penalties called per game[149][150][151][152]
  • perceived lackluster matchups
  • the above-mentioned problems with politics. The 2016 US Presidential elections were a particular sore point with fans, with some of Super Bowl LI's commercials in particular having drawn backlash.[153][154][155][156][157]

The loss in viewership is potentially worrisome for the larger networks that are spending roughly $5 billion for football rights through the 2021 season.[158]

Some news agencies are suggesting the decline in viewership is about the recent protest by some players of the US anthem.[159] The NFL addressed this concern in a memo leaked on Twitter to the NFL organizations "that we see no evidence that concern over player protests during the National Anthem is having any material impact on our ratings."[160]

Increased penalties and ratings[]

The NFL has seen a vast increase in penalties called per game and total penalty yards per game. From 2009 to 2016 penalties per game increased by 20 percent.[161] Through week 1 of the 2018 regular season, penalties are up another 19 percent vs 2017.[150] Week one of the 2018 NFL season saw the second-most accepted penalties called of any single week in the past 10 years with 255 called, an increase of 35% per game from the previous season.[162] Complaints about increased changes in the rulebook making the rules too convoluted to understand and reducing the perceived quality of competition have colored the media surrounding the 2018 NFL season particularly.[163][164]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Doyel, Gregg (April 18, 2010). "Goodell's conduct policy veering from mostly right to all wrong". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 21, 2012.[dead link]
  2. ^ Brown, Clifton (May 8, 2012). "NFL concussion conundrum: Can safety, violence co-exist? Challenge is daunting – NFL – Sporting News". AOL.SportingNews.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
  3. ^ Morgan, Jon (1995-11-06). Glory for Sale: Fans, Dollars, and the New NFL – Jon Morgan – Google Books. ISBN 9780963124654. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  4. ^ "Descendants of the Mayflower: A History of the Indianapolis Colts". Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Sandomir, Richard (November 12, 1995). "A City Fights To Save The Browns". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2021.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Smith, Timothy (November 4, 1995). "Baltimore Browns May Be a Done Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2021.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Latzke, Jeff (2008-08-20). "Seattle to retain SuperSonics banners and trophies". The Seattle Times.
  8. ^ Todd, John (2005-12-15). "San Jose's MLS team moving to Houston". USA Today. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "NFL Owners OK Rams' Move to St. Louis". Los Angeles Times. 13 April 1995. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  10. ^ Miklasz, Bernie (April 21, 2010). "Kroenke's pledge to keep the Rams in St. Louis". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  11. ^ "Stan Kroenke is new Rams owner". ESPN. August 25, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. ^ Florio, Mike (February 2, 2013). "Rams win stadium arbitration". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b Farmer, Sam; Vincent, Roger (5 January 2015). "Owner of St. Louis Rams plans to build NFL stadium in Inglewood". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  14. ^ "2014 NFL Football Attendance – National Football League". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  15. ^ Caesar, Dan (2015-02-15). "St. Louis fans praised for supporting lousy Rams". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  16. ^ Roggin, Fred (2015-06-15). "StL Mayor's Office would welcome the Chargers or Raiders if Rams leave". The Beast 980. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
  17. ^ Hunn, David. "Goodell: $300 million for St. Louis stadium 'fundamentally inconsistent' with NFL policy". stltoday.com.
  18. ^ Hunn, David (January 7, 2016). "Slay to Goodell: I cannot ever remember meeting Stan Kroenke". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  19. ^ Hunn, David (January 7, 2016). "St. Louis to Kroenke: You're 'preposterous'". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  20. ^ Ozanian, Mike (January 6, 2016). "Stan Kroenke's Bad Relocation Math". St. Louis Post Dispatch. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "Rams headed back to Los Angeles; Chargers have option to join". ESPN. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  22. ^ Thomas, Jim. "NFL owners thrilled by Kroenke's move". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Missouri Sports Hall of Fame mulling Kroenke's removal". KMOV. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  24. ^ Florio, Mike. "Goodell reminds San Diego that $300 million is available for stadium". NBC Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  25. ^ "St. Louis fans chant 'Kroenke sucks' amid ceremonial puck drop". KMOV. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  26. ^ "The Rams just hit St. Louis with the worst slap in the face yet". USAToday.com. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  27. ^ "Fans shocked to hear Demoff happy about St. Louis Rams' losing season". fox2now.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  28. ^ "Forty Under 40: Kevin Demoff". sportsbusinessdaily.com. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  29. ^ "St. Louis suing NFL over Rams' relocation". USAToday.com. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  30. ^ Associated Press. Goodell strengthens NFL player conduct policy USA Today, April 10, 2007.
  31. ^ "Goodell strengthens NFL personal conduct policy". USA Today. 2007-04-11.
  32. ^ "The Hypocrisy That Is Roger Goodell and the NFL Player Conduct Policy". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  33. ^ Baenen, Jeff. "Culpepper, three other Vikings charged in boat-party scandal". USA Today. Retrieved 2005-12-15.
  34. ^ "Report: Wilf delivers profanity-laced address to Vikings – NFL". ESPN. 2005-10-19. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  35. ^ Baenen, Jeff (2005-12-18). "Culpepper, three other Vikings charged in boat-party scandal". USA Today.
  36. ^ "Vick Fails Drug Test, Under House Arrest". CNN. 2007-09-26.
  37. ^ "Vick, Eagles agree to 2-year deal". ESPN. 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  38. ^ "NFLPA.org" (PDF). NFLPA.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  39. ^ Maske, Mark; Shapiro, Leonard (April 28, 2005). "NFL's Steroid Policy Gets Kudos on Capitol Hill". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  40. ^ Joel Roberts (April 27, 2005). "NFL Steroid Policy 'Not Perfect', House Committee Praises Tougher Testing Policy, But Still May Act – CBS News". CBSNews.com. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  41. ^ Klis, Mike (2007-02-07). "Chargers LB supports the "Merriman Rule"". Denver Post. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  42. ^ "Sources: Positive 'roids test to result in Pro Bowl ban". ESPN. 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  43. ^ "Adderall: NFL's new, trendy PED - FOX Sports". foxsports.com. 29 November 2012.
  44. ^ "The dark side: The secret world of sports doping". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  45. ^ "Documentary links Peyton Manning, other pro athletes to use of PEDs". Espn.go.com. 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  46. ^ "Al Jazeera reporter stresses that no allegation is being made against Peyton Manning | ProFootballTalk". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  47. ^ Timothy Burke. "Al Jazeera Reporter: Second "Knowledgable And Credible" Source Confirms HGH Sent To Manning House". Deadspin.com. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  48. ^ Nicki Jhabvala. "Al-Jazeera reporter says second source confirmed HGH shipments to Ashley Manning". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  49. ^ "Peyton Manning's legal team looked into Al Jazeera documentary". Espn.go.com. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  50. ^ Richardson, Bradford (July 25, 2016). "NFL rebukes Al Jazeera: 'No credible evidence' Peyton Manning used HGH". Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  51. ^ Martinez, Michael; Riojas, Priscilla (September 11, 2014). "NFL's past penalties for domestic violence 'a different story'". CNN.
  52. ^ "Ray Rice -- ELEVATOR KNOCKOUT ... Fiancee Takes Crushing Punch (Video)". TMZ Sports. September 8, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  53. ^ Almasy, Steve; Nichols, Rachel (August 28, 2014). "NFL toughens domestic violence policy with six-game bans". CNN.
  54. ^ Gregory, Sean (September 11, 2014). "The Convicted Abuser Who's Still Playing In The NFL". Time.
  55. ^ Arit, John (September 11, 2014). "Sixteen Female Senators Pressure NFL to Adopt Zero-Tolerance Domestic Violence Policy". The Wire.
  56. ^ "NFL Players Say No More PSAs." NOMORE.org. The NO MORE Project. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. <http://nomore.org/nflplayerspsa/>.
  57. ^ "NFL denies Cowboys' request to wear helmet decal honoring Dallas police". Foxsports.com. 2016-11-16.
  58. ^ "Colin Kaepernick explains why he sat during national anthem". NFL.com. 2016-08-27.
  59. ^ "NFL won't fine players who wore 9/11 tribute cleats". sbnation.com. 2016-09-14.
  60. ^ "Trainer's settlement involved more than Manning's mooning". Augusta Chronicle. Associated Press. August 20, 1997.
  61. ^ "USATODAY.com – Peyton Manning defamation lawsuit resolved". usatoday30.usatoday.com.
  62. ^ McCann, Michael (February 14, 2016). "Documents reveal more litigation in Manning case". Sports Illustrated.
  63. ^ Michael A. Fuoco (August 8, 2009). "Woman's affidavit supports Roethlisberger's denial of sexual assault". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
  64. ^ Walker, Hunter (March 7, 2010). "Big Ben's Night Out In "Millyvegas": What The Bartenders Saw". Deadspin. Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  65. ^ "Baldwin County DA Fred Bright's transcript". Our Georgia History. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  66. ^ Christian Boone, Bill Torpy and Bill Rankin (April 26, 2010). "QB's case in trouble from the start: NFL's Roethlisberger benefited from lapses in Milledgeville case". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  67. ^ Wilner, Barry (April 21, 2010). "Roethlisberger banned 6 games". Associated Press. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
  68. ^ Times file photo (5 March 2012). "Saints' "Bountygate" brings back memories of Eagles' "Bounty Bowl"". NJ.com. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  69. ^ "1989 Eagles recall original Bounty Bowl". Philly.com. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  70. ^ KevinR38 (2009-12-19). "1989 Bounty Bowl II". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  71. ^ Pedulla, Tom (2007-09-12). "Belichick apologizes for 'Videogate'". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  72. ^ "Jets play innocent, wonder 'What is 'Spygate?'". MSNBC.com. Associated Press. 2008-12-10. Archived from the original on 13 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  73. ^ "Belichick draws $500,000 fine, but avoids suspension – NFL". ESPN. 2007-09-14. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  74. ^ "Timeline of events and disclosures during Spygate saga". ESPN.com. 2008-05-12. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  75. ^ Laurie, Kellman (2008-02-13). "Belichick has been taping since 2000, Goodell tells Specter". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  76. ^ Tomase, John (2008-02-02). "Source: Pats Employee Filmed Rams". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  77. ^ "ESPN just nuked the Patriots and NFL for Spygate". SB Nation. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  78. ^ Tim Graham. "Bills bounty system under Williams alleged – Bills & NFL". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  79. ^ Maske, Mark (2012-03-04). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  80. ^ Silverman, Steve. "'Bountygate' Details Get Uglier by the Moment – NFL". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  81. ^ Seifert, Kevin (5 March 2012). "Saints' shots at Brett Favre were no secret – NFC North Blog". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  82. ^ Wright, Michael (January 2, 2010). "Bears wonder if Saints targeted them". ESPN. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  83. ^ Yasinskas, Pat (21 March 2012). "NFL: Saints targeted Cam Newton – NFC South Blog". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
  84. ^ Silver, Michael (2012-04-05). "Source: Gregg Williams instructed Saints during speech to injure Niners offensive players". Yahoo! Sports.
  85. ^ "NFL bans Saints' Payton a year for 'bounties'; Williams out, too". NFL. March 21, 2012.
  86. ^ Lofton, Curtis (2012-05-02). "Jonathan Vilma Suspended for Entire Season". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  87. ^ "Saints player bounty suspensions overturned on appeal". NFL. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  88. ^ Boren, Cindy (2011-12-09). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  89. ^ Keating, Peter (6 November 2006). "Doctor Yes". ESPN. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  90. ^ Wolfson, Paula. "Seau's death raises questions about kids' concussions". WTOP News. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  91. ^ Breer, Albert (2013-04-08). "Concussion lawsuit: State of things entering Tuesday's hearing". National Football League. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  92. ^ "What is CTE?". Concussion Legacy Foundation. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  93. ^ Matuszewski, Erik (December 10, 2013). "Rob Gronkowski's Knee Injury Spotlights NFL's Surge in ACL Tears". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  94. ^ Seifert, Kevin (October 23, 2013). "Inside Slant: Big spike in ACL injuries". ESPN. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  95. ^ Hill, Kashmir (April 30, 2005). "The Washington Redskins Controversy: An Interview with Amanda Blackhorse". November 26, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  96. ^ Jump up to: a b Dominique, Alvin (April 17, 2008). "NFL History: The Road to Free Agency". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  97. ^ Freeman, Mike. "NFL Is in Violation of Antitrust Laws, Jury Decides", The Tech Online Edition, 11 September 1992. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  98. ^ George, Thomas. "FOOTBALL; N.F.L.'s Free-Agency System Is Found Unfair by U.S. Jury", The New York Times, September 11, 1992. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  99. ^ "NFL Lockout Begins". WIVB.com. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  100. ^ Alex Brandon/The Times-Picayune (2011-04-23). "If NFL lockout lingers, games in Week 2 and Week 4 could potentially be cancelled – New Orleans Saints Football NFL News". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  101. ^ "NFL lockout: Hall of Fame Game exhibition canceled; Chicago Bears could report to training camp Wednesday if NFL players ratify deal". Chicago Tribune. 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  102. ^ Schefter, Adam (2011-07-25). "Sources: Deal to end lockout reached". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  103. ^ "Sources: NFL, NFLPA agree to terms of new CBA – NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN". FOX Sports. 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  104. ^ "NFL to use replacement officials for start of regular season – ESPN Chicago". ESPN. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  105. ^ "NFL Referees Association files unfair labor practice charge against league – NFL". Sports Illustrated. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  106. ^ "Robbie Gould: Replacement refs 'clueless'". ESPN. August 24, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  107. ^ "Belichick fined 50K, Kyle Shanahan 25K by NFL". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  108. ^ Farrar, Doug (2012-09-09). "Replacement refs give Seahawks an extra timeout, Cardinals win anyway | Shutdown Corner – Yahoo! Sports". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  109. ^ "Brian Stropolo, NFL Replacement Official, Removed For Being Saints Fan". Huffington Post. 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  110. ^ "Sources: Ref lockout could end soon". ESPN. 2008-01-01. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  111. ^ "NFL Videos: Top 10 controversial calls". NFL.com. 2010-06-03. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  112. ^ Official Rules for Professional Football 1971, The National Football League, Rule 7, Section 5, Article 2, Item 1, p.44.
  113. ^ "Immaculate Reception". Steelers Fever. 1972-12-23. Archived from the original on 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  114. ^ Media, Raiders. "The Holy Roller". Raiders.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  115. ^ "History Release » The "Holy Roller"". Pro Football Hall of Fame. 1978-09-10. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  116. ^ "Rules of the Name, or How The Emmitt Rule Became the Emmitt Rule". Professional Football Researchers Association, Mirrored at the Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-12-11. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  117. ^ Jump up to: a b "ESPN.com – Page2 – The List: Worst calls in sports history". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  118. ^ "Music City Miracle — History.com This Day in History — 1/8/2000". History.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  119. ^ BILL PENNINGTON (2000-01-24). "PRO FOOTBALL; Bucs Grounded By a Replay Call Voiding a Catch". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  120. ^ "Buccaneers.com – The Answer Man, Series 3, Vol. 7". 2006-01-16. Retrieved 2006-07-07.
  121. ^ "NFL Rules Named After Players » OTB Sports". Sports.outsidethebeltway.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  122. ^ Meisel, Zack (2014-12-16). "An oral history of BottleGate, 13 years after Cleveland Browns fans stole the spotlight". cleveland.com. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  123. ^ Maske, Mark (October 15, 2005). "Tuck Rule Hard to Grasp". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  124. ^ "Mike Pereira: Time to change the tuck rule". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  125. ^ Weisman, Larry (2003-01-07). "NFL: Officials missed pass interference call in Giants-49ers". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  126. ^ Burke, Brian. "How Much Did Super Bowl XL's Officiating Affect The Outcome?". Advanced NFL Stats. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  127. ^ "Super Bowl XL Game Recap". NFL.com. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  128. ^ "Four years later, Bill Leavy apologizes to Seahawks". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-16.
  129. ^ "NFL: Seahawks' victory stands". ESPN. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  130. ^ Wallace, Kamal. "Twitter erupts over NFL replacement refs' call". HLN. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  131. ^ "Junior: NFL season 'stained in way that's irreparable'". USA Today. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  132. ^ Heifetz, Danny (2019-01-20). "Ball Does Lie: The Saints Just Lost on the Worst Missed Call in NFL Playoff History". The Ringer. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  133. ^ Edholm, Eric. "Missed PI might have been worst non-call ever, but will NFL change replay because of it?". www.profootballweekly.com. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  134. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (May 11, 2015). "Tom Brady suspended 4 games, plans to appeal". National Football League. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  135. ^ "NFL releases statement on Patriots' violations". National Football League. May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  136. ^ "NFLPA appeals Patriots QB Tom Brady's four-game suspension". ESPN.com. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  137. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (July 28, 2015). "Roger Goodell upholds Tom Brady suspension". National Football League. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  138. ^ Orr, Conor (September 3, 2015). "Judge nullifies Tom Brady's four-game suspension". National Football League. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  139. ^ Belson, Ken (April 25, 2016). "N.F.L. Wins Appeal, and Tom Brady Has Little Recourse". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  140. ^ Brinson, Will (July 13, 2016). "Tom Brady's request for rehearing denied, only option left is Supreme Court". Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  141. ^ Cluff, Jeremy (July 15, 2016). "Patriots' Tom Brady won't appeal further, out for Cardinals game". Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  142. ^ Sandomir, Richard (8 September 2011). "ESPN Extends Deal With N.F.L. for $15.2 Billion". The New York Times.
  143. ^ Brown, Maury. "ESPN's Uncomfortable, Unnerving Relationship With The NFL". forbes.com.
  144. ^ "N.F.L. Pressure Said to Lead ESPN to Quit Film Project". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  145. ^ "A Note from FRONTLINE: ESPN and "League of Denial"". pbs.org.
  146. ^ "ESPN Wants Keith Olbermann to Quit Doing "Commentary"". The Hollywood Reporter. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  147. ^ "Did the NFL punish ESPN with bad 'Monday Night Football' games?". The Washington Post. 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  148. ^ "NFL memo cites multiple reasons for TV ratings drop in 2016". ESPN. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  149. ^ "The NFL Has a Penalty Problem: Penalty flags have made the game... Nearly Unwatchable". Revenge of the Birds. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  150. ^ Jump up to: a b Beaton, Andrew (2018-09-13). "The NFL's Penalty Surge". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  151. ^ Magary, Drew (2018-08-02). "The NFL Isn't Ready for How Big of a Disaster This Season Will Be". GQ. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  152. ^ "Ranking the reasons why the NFL's ratings are down". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  153. ^ Godoy, Maria. "Budweiser's Super Bowl Ad And The Great Debate Over What It Means To Be An American". NPR. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  154. ^ Framke, Caroline (February 5, 2017). "The story behind 84 Lumber's Super Bowl ad about Trump's border wall". Vox. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  155. ^ Shields, Mike (February 6, 2017). "84 Lumber Super Bowl Campaign Shows Border Wall With a Big Door". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  156. ^ Payne, Marissa (February 5, 2017). "84 Lumber forced to re-tool Super Bowl ad rejected for depicting Trump's border wall". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  157. ^ O'Reilly, Lara (February 5, 2017). "The 84 Lumber Super Bowl ad's creative director explains the thinking behind the Mexican immigration-themed spot". Business Insider. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  158. ^ Flint, Joe (7 October 2016). "Ratings Fumble for NFL Surprises Networks, Advertisers". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  159. ^ "Confirmed: NFL Losing Millions Of TV Viewers Because Of National Anthem Protests". Forbes. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  160. ^ https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/784428496089182208. Retrieved October 9, 2016. Missing or empty |title= (help)[better source needed]
  161. ^ "NFL's penalty count up more than 20 percent since 2009". Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  162. ^ "Week 1 of 2018 set a new NFL record for penalties in a week". Behind the Steel Curtain. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  163. ^ "The N.F.L. Struggles to Tackle Its Latest Problem: Tackling". Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  164. ^ "NFL's penalty problem reaches a new height each week". New York Post. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-25.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""