NFL: Bad behavior dropped 20 percent
Player behavior was the NFL's hot topic a year ago as Commissioner Roger Goodell pieced together a strengthened personal conduct policy and big suspensions for Pacman Jones, Chris Henry and Tank Johnson were on the horizon.
A year later, the league says the crackdown has had the desired effect of serving as a deterrent, plus there's been a trickledown to college football. Coaches, current players and this year's draft prospects seem to agree.
"Based on what we hear from the players and our clubs, we believe the policy has had a positive impact," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "Everyone clearly understands what is expected and that we are held to very high standards. The positive impact is reflected in a decreasing number of incidents, which dropped 20 percent last year.
"It is also reflected in many comments we have received from college football coaches and administrators that the commissioner's stand is having a positive impact on college players as well."
Aiello said the 20 percent figure is based on the league's comparison of two comparable time periods — April 10 to Dec. 31, 2006, and April 10 to Dec. 31, 2007.
Last year, six players were suspended under the personal conduct policy and three people were fined. Jones, Henry and Johnson were the highest-profile cases — Jones was shelved for a year and has yet to be reinstated, while Henry and Johnson sat out half a season.
A year later, the league says the crackdown has had the desired effect of serving as a deterrent, plus there's been a trickledown to college football. Coaches, current players and this year's draft prospects seem to agree.
"Based on what we hear from the players and our clubs, we believe the policy has had a positive impact," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "Everyone clearly understands what is expected and that we are held to very high standards. The positive impact is reflected in a decreasing number of incidents, which dropped 20 percent last year.
"It is also reflected in many comments we have received from college football coaches and administrators that the commissioner's stand is having a positive impact on college players as well."
Aiello said the 20 percent figure is based on the league's comparison of two comparable time periods — April 10 to Dec. 31, 2006, and April 10 to Dec. 31, 2007.
Last year, six players were suspended under the personal conduct policy and three people were fined. Jones, Henry and Johnson were the highest-profile cases — Jones was shelved for a year and has yet to be reinstated, while Henry and Johnson sat out half a season.
I think the real results will be measurable in 2 to 3 years.