Vote WOODDRIVER for NFL Commisioner

It's been seven weeks since the NFL season began, and the cries for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to step down in early September have quieted to just whispers. Outside of Goodell announcing the formation of a committee to overhaul the league’s domestic violence policy just two weeks after the Ray Rice elevator video went public, the Commissioner has kept an extremely low profile and, as the weeks have passed, it seems that many have forgotten their outrage toward the top NFL executive.

The Commissioner seems to have weathered the storm for now. Without more public and private pressure placed on him, it is unlikely that NFL owners (his bosses who elected him to his position) will take any action to remove him from his position considering his major achievements during his tenure. He was able to get a long term, owner friendly, collective bargaining agreement between the teams and the players' union. He was able to get an owner friendly settlement between the league and the former players who were suing the NFL regarding concussions. He was also able to successfully make "spy-gate" (the New England Patriots illegally videotaping opposing teams’ practices) and "bounty-gate" (the New Orleans Saints paying their players to injure opposing players) controversies go away.

Personally, I agree with NBA owner Mark Cuban (the most publicly outspoken owner in professional sports) that the NFL has become too greedy and that the league will likely implode in the next ten years. Furthermore, I feel that many of Commissioner Goodell's actions are detrimental to the game and that if he is not removed, he may damage the league beyond repair.

Since it is election time, I would like to announce my candidacy to become the new Commissioner of the NFL. I am fully aware that there are at least a million people more qualified than me to do the job, but that hasn't stopped the last three United States Presidents from being elected, so why should it stop me? In the spirit of the U.S. Congress's, "Contract with America", this is my contract with the NFL:


Player conduct:
If I am elected Commissioner, players who are accused of serious crimes like domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, and other crimes that could result in felony charges, will be immediately suspended with pay. The league will pay the player's salary during the suspension (not the owner) while the player is awaiting trial. If convicted, the player will be held financially responsible to reimburse the league. If the player is cleared of charges, the player can then return to his team and the team owner will reimburse the league. During the suspension, the team owner will not have the player’s salary counted against the salary cap. Players who are found guilty of a second charge will be banned for life.

If I am elected Commissioner, DUI charges will result in an immediate one (calendar) year suspension without pay. The NFL already provides resources to make sure that an impaired player does not have to take the wheel. Even players making the league minimum should be able to afford a taxi. Players found guilty of a second offense will be banned for life.

If I am elected Commissioner, all positive drug tests for recreational or performance enhancing drugs will result in an immediate one year suspension without pay. Players found guilty of a second offense will be banned for life.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will create a Department of Player Personal Conduct which will oversee mandatory and supplemental education of players relating to player conduct on and off the field. I cannot think of a better person to head this department than retired New York Yankee's short-stop, Derek Jeter. Even more impressive than his terrific career on the field, Jeter spent twenty years as one of the most high-profile, richest, most recognizable bachelors in New York and kept himself out of the tabloids and out of controversy. Clearly this man has lessons worth learning.


The NFL season:
If I am elected Commissioner, all NFL regular season home games will be played in the continental United States. No longer will season ticket holders lose a home game because the team traveled out of the country. Pre-season games will be considered providing that the participating teams are willing to play an additional game.

If I am elected Commissioner, the season will consist of four pre-season games (with exception of exhibitions played outside the U.S. and the Hall of Fame game), and sixteen regular season games.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will eliminate the bye weeks from the regular season schedule. The regular season will be sixteen games played over sixteen weeks.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will eliminate the Thursday night games from the regular season. The only NFL games that will be played on Thursdays will be the traditional Thanksgiving Day games in Detroit and Dallas.

If I am elected Commissioner, there will be no games played on Saturdays until December after the college football regular season is concluded.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will not expand the playoffs. The playoff system will remain as it is with the four division champions and two wild-card teams from each conference competing for the right to go to the SuperBowl. Division champions will continue to host a playoff game regardless of regular season record.


Teams and Owners:
If I am elected Commissioner, the league will not be expanded beyond the existing 32 teams.

If I am elected Commissioner, teams will not be allowed to relocate unless that team's owner can raise the funding for at least 49% of the construction cost of a new facility in their new host city. The new host city will not be asked to raise more than 51% of construction costs.

If I am elected Commissioner, any team that relocates must sign a fifteen year minimum guaranteed contract with their new host city.

If I am elected Commissioner, the NFL host city will retain the naming rights to their home team. The NFL owner must negotiate the rights to take the team name with them should they choose to relocate. The only exception is that the Rams can retain their name if they choose to relocate to Los Angeles.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will place no public pressure on Washington Redskins' owner Dan Snyder to change the name of the team (although I would privately encourage otherwise). The name recognition is part of the price he paid when he bought the team. Furthermore, any media member who publicly protests use of the name will have their NFL credentials revoked.


Rules of Play:
If I am elected Commissioner, kickoffs will be moved back to the thirty yard line and the kick return team will be allowed to "form the wedge" of blockers to bring the excitement of the kickoff return back to the game.

If I am elected Commissioner, overtime games will return to the sudden death format for regular and post season games. The first team to score in overtime wins, period.

If I am elected Commissioner, enforcement of helmet contact will be relaxed and will focus on both offensive and defensive players keeping their heads up and not leading into contact with the crown of the helmet.

If I am elected Commissioner, quarterbacks will no longer be able to hook-slide to avoid contact in the middle of the field. If a quarterback chooses to run past the line of scrimmage, he will be like any other ball carrier.


Also:
If I am elected Commissioner, any college player entering the NFL draft who makes statements in an effort to circumvent the draft order will be ruled ineligible for that year’s draft. I hated when John Elway did it, I hated when Eli Manning did it, and as Commissioner it wouldn’t happen on my watch.

If I am elected Commissioner, I will allow each team the option to designate one player who has spent his entire career of over seven years with that team a "career player" exemption allowing the team to go over their salary cap so that player can finish his career with the same team without becoming a salary cap casualty. However, with my version of the "Larry Bird exception" there will not be any sign and trade deals.

Finally, if I am elected Commissioner, I will not charge musicians to perform at the halftime show at the SuperBowl. Previous performers have seen an immediate spike in sales after their appearance, but this latest cash-grab is a prime example of just how greedy the NFL has become under Goodell, and why he needs to be fired.

I openly admit that I have very little chance of becoming the next NFL Commissioner. However, many politicians who run for public office know that they don't have a chance from the beginning, but by running for office, they can help "frame the debate" in the next election. That's what I'm hoping to accomplish here. I love NFL, and I want to see it preserved and protected for generations to come. Sadly, I'm convinced that if not removed, Commissioner Roger Goodell will fix the NFL until it is broken.