| What should you do on a fourth and two with only | | | | image and behavior. Nowhere is this been more |
| one minute left on the clock and a three point | | | | evident than the case of Michael Vick. The Atlanta |
| difference? Should you punt or should you try a field | | | | Falcons athlete who has been accused, with a |
| goal to create a tie? These kinds of decisions plague | | | | copious amount of evidence, of running a dog fighting |
| coaches throughout their history and career in the | | | | ring in his Surrey, Virginia home. While Michael Vick |
| NFL. From the sidelines to the head office, | | | | maintains the house was used by a relative and that |
| decision-making is a large part of professional sports. | | | | he had no knowledge of the numerous dog |
| However the NFL is on a recent series of | | | | carcasses found on his property or of record books |
| decision-making or decision-stalling that has led many | | | | recording gambling and dog fighting deals, the fact |
| to criticize the commissioner's office and the way | | | | remains he is tacitly responsible. Analysts and fans |
| decisions are made. | | | | alike are calling for his suspension until the case is |
| 45 second rule | | | | resolved, and the decision of the NFL to avoid this |
| It's no secret that one of the providential prosperities | | | | controversy strikes many as lack of leadership at top |
| of the NFL has been its relationship with the media. | | | | levels. |
| From Monday night football to ESPN Sports Center, | | | | Supporting retired players |
| access of the media to NFL players, parks and | | | | Players, trainers and fans alike can tell you one of the |
| offices has been the hallmark of a stellar relationship. | | | | reasons NFL players require so much for contracts, is |
| However, online journalism with its independent | | | | that they are selling their future health and the rest |
| reporters and the streaming videos has posed a | | | | of the life of their body to play this game. Retired |
| problem for the NFL as they have no ability to | | | | football players suffer crippling back and bone injuries, |
| control content or manage a relationship with every | | | | endure skull fractures and incur the inability to have |
| blog writer with a webcam. The NFL created the 45 | | | | good health. A35 year-old man walks like an 80 year |
| second rule, which states online journalists may only | | | | old with a cane after 10 years playing professional |
| show 45 seconds worth of material about their club | | | | football. Unfortunately, the NFL has been called by |
| or players each and every day. 45 seconds is not a | | | | Congress to justify why the players league and union |
| long time for any form of journalism and many | | | | has not been supporting these retired veterans at |
| complained that it should be brought up as an | | | | the level required. Many are not getting medical |
| inhibition of the right of free speech. The NFL | | | | assistance, physical therapy or in some cases even |
| maintains they own their clubhouse property and | | | | living expenses. Just as the NFL has used these |
| team franchise and have the right to look out for the | | | | athletes and their ability to create revenue for the |
| best interest of the club. | | | | sport they have an obligation both moral and legal to |
| Bad behavior | | | | help them continue in their life after football. |
| While the American system of justice sustains that | | | | Every arena is made of tough calls and bad decisions. |
| you are innocent until proven guilty, there's only so | | | | The NFL commissioner's office must start to make |
| much common sense people have to have to know | | | | better calls to protect the integrity and image of |
| someone is guilty of damaging the sport through their | | | | football. |