Peyton Manning story offers NFL distraction from bountygate
As distractions go, the NFL could have conjured up none better than the Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts breakup. It's not easy to push Bountygate off the front page of sports sections and web sites for a couple of days, but if there's one fellow who can do it, it's Manning, joined by the strong supporting cast of Jim Irsay, Andrew Luck and the Dolphins or Cardinals or Redskins or whoever wins the Manning Sweepstakes.
So, just when you were wondering if it was the Saints or the Sopranos who played in the Superdome, along comes a story that is just as fascinating as bounty hunting in the NFL, with none of its legal, moral or ethical complications.
The Manning departure drama was made all the more appealing by the dignified way he and Irsay handled his release from the team in their noontime news conference Wednesday. If a future Hall of Fame player must leave a team, that was the way to do it, with not a hint of remorse, only a bushel basket of "thank yous." Apparently, sportsmanship, class and grace are not dead yet in American professional sports. It's not every day that you see a multi-million-dollar quarterback choke up about the equipment guys, but that's exactly what Manning did. He also never once mentioned taking his "talents to South Beach," or anywhere else. The video of his performance should be required viewing for every professional athlete in every sport.
Rushing nothing, having spent weeks preparing for this day, it was as if both Manning and Irsay knew that what they were doing, while difficult, was not only inevitable, but the correct call for each. Now, just as that rich story line comes to an end, two other incredibly appealing threads begin. Where will Manning, nearly 36, play this coming season, and will he be able to regain his old form after three neck surgeries in less than two seasons? Even people who have never cared much for the NFL but who like what they see in Manning will be watching to find out.
As for Luck, the pressure will be tremendous on the young Stanford quarterback who many expect to be selected by the Colts with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Luck might be the best passing prospect to come out of college since John Elway, but he still takes over a 2-14 team and must replace a legend who might continue to do legendary things. No matter how good you are, that's serious pressure.
So, pull up a chair. This is going to get good.
But we digress. The NFL has a serious problem on its hands with the unfolding bounty scandal in New Orleans and Washington, and, in the next couple of weeks, must decide what kind of punishment to mete out to the masterminds, instigators and perpetrators of a program that paid players to knock opposing stars out of games. This decision is set against the backdrop of rising concerns about concussions not only in the NFL, but throughout sports, and comes at a time when the league has been sued by injured ex-players.
"It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game," Commissioner Roger Goodell said late last week, "and this type of conduct will not be tolerated."
That's as it should be. It's time for Goodell to channel Kenesaw Mountain Landis and make examples of Gregg Williams, the defensive coordinator who devised and ran the bounty programs with the Redskins and Saints, as well as Saints head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis, who both said they knew about the program — and anyone else who pops up in the 50,000 pages of material the league is investigating.
Here's a question that needs to be asked: If the bounty program is as bad as we think it is, why should Williams ever be allowed to coach in the NFL again? And why should Payton and Loomis be allowed to work for the Saints this season?
The NFL is a violent game, but violence as a common denominator does not excuse this. Is the NFL populated by tough, aggressive athletes, or hired hit men? If rules aren't to be followed, why not just put a cage around it and call it MMA?
This article was written by Christine Brennan and appeared in USA Today. 
Posted by Necesitamos Mas Football
on 11:33 a. m..
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