Sometimes the name says it all. For most of his career on the playing field Ben Roethlisberger has lived up to his nickname- Big Ben. The problem might now be that the Steeler quarterback might have started thinking that nickname referred to something other than the famous clock.

For the second time in less than a year it appears as if the 28-year-old star may be thinking with the wrong head. His guilt or innocence has yet to be established in the first sexual assault case, an incident involving a young casino hostess back in the summer of 2008. With the suit not settled, it would have made sense for Big Ben to lay low; so much for that.

The lawyers for that young lady have to be doing handstands about now. There is nothing that will make someone look guilty better than that person getting accused of doing the same thing again. It would be surprising if Big Ben did not end up writing a big check.

Roethlisberger has obviously not grown up. Yes, he is young and single and should be going out partying. However, as a public figure (especially one going through litigation) he should be more aware of his surroundings and not putting himself in the line of fire. Acting like he is not a celebrity (when he has been recognized) just brings more attention to himself; it shows that he is looking for just that- the idolization that comes with being famous.

If he actually was trying to be inconspicuous, that would have been the last place he would have gone. With that in mind, one has to wonder what a man his age is doing hanging around college kids. Someone that is nearly 30 and with good intentions does not go into a college bar to watch a basketball game; he has other things on his mind.

The Steelers can blame themselves for this issue. They took a guy that has been a big fish in a little pond for most of his life and blew his ego out of proportion. Going from a one year high school quarterback to one of the best that the MAC has seen to being handed the reigns of one of the most historic franchises in history is a recipe for trouble.

Had he come to the NFL and gotten beaten around a bit, physically and/or mentally, it would have humbled him. He would have had to realize he was playing the game at a whole new level now. Instead they created a monster when they reeled off 13 wins with the rookie behind center during the regular season. However, had they not had the #1 defense in the NFL that season to go along with the second best running game, they would no have won nearly as many games (the Roethlisberger-led passing attack ranked 28^th).

Big Ben has yet to realize that he is just one cog in the machine because of the talent that has surrounded him. In the 2010 season he had less talent and was asked to be a much bigger part of the game himself. As a result, the Steelers ended up with a five game losing streak and missing the playoffs.

When a guy like him has never been knocked down a peg he tends to think he is invincible and do the foolish things that he has been doing. As of yet there has been little legal evidence for or against Roethlisberger presented in the media. However, there has been more than enough the court of public opinion to render there judgment. Guys that have graduated college know why they go back to college bars (hint- it’s not for watching sporting events, but sport of another sort).

Roethlisberger’s attorney is going to have his work cut out for him. One time could have been viewed as an isolated incident, but twice becomes a pattern of conduct that should disturb the Steeler faithful, owner Art Rooney, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. What’s to say that there will not be more that come out of the woodwork once this current mess is done?

The Citadel quarterback Miguel Starks is facing drug charges

A former colleague, who is a huge college football fan, would refer to the period between the end of the bowl games and  the start of spring practice as the hunting season.

He says this is the period when players are the most apt to be on the prowl for trouble because they have more free time on their hands with no practice or a structured schedule.

It is an interesting theory, and who am I to disagree?

I happened upon the college football section of the FoxSports web site Monday night and noticed no less than five stories about players getting into trouble.

One, the arrest of 18-year-old quarterback Zach Mettenberger for underage drinking, I dismissed. This is a misdemeanor and hardly worthy of dismissal from the team. Make him run during the first day of spring  practice until he throws up. Or, if Mark Richt, really wants to make an example of the kid, suspend him for the season opener.

Two of the incidents involved players being disciplined by the schools or coaches. Houston freshman kick returner A.J. Dugat and sophomore offensive lineman Ari Tatum were dismissed from the team by coach Kevin Sumlin, while Boise State suspended senior safety Jason Robinson indefinitely for violating team rules.

I can’t really comment on these incidents, because the schools didn’t release the details, though in the Houston case, you have to imagine it’s something serious to get tossed off the squad.

But it’s the other two stories that are most troubling. In the first, The Citadel quarterback Miguel Starks and former Citadel player linebacker Reginald Anthony Rice were charged with armed robbery, first-degree burglary, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. (This story was first reported on February 28).

The Citadel is military school big on discipline, but obviously that discipline didn’t extend to its quarterback.

Finally, there is the story of the Michigan State football players who were involved in a campus fight in November. 

Receivers B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell were sentenced to 18 months of probation and 150 hours of community service for their roles in the brawl. The sentences came on Monday after the players pleaded guilty in January to misdemeanor assault and battery.

Michigan State has not announced what penalties it will impose upon the players. Eleven current or former Spartans football players have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a fight with members of a campus fraternity. The nine other players are still awaiting sentencing.

So, what do all these stories mean? Maybe nothing, maybe it’s just been a bad stretch for college football players to get into trouble.

But I do thing there’s a larger issue at play here. It’s one thing for a college student to get charged with under-age drinking, but it’s an entirely other matter when they are involved in brawls and armed robbery.

 I’m not sure there’s room for students like that on any college campus, whether they are athletes or not.

The Michigan State players deserve a second chance – maybe – because there were no weapons involved.  The Citadel
player should be tossed out on his ear.

Here’s the bottom line: Obviously, schools can’t predict the behavior of students when they arrive on campus, but they need to do a better job of checking the backgrounds – and character – of the athletes they recruit.

While there are always (some) extenuating circumstances, in 99 out of 100 cases, students who have a wrap sheet the length of their arm shouldn’t be allowed on campus – regardless of their athletic ability. And I’m not talking about a kid who has a couple parking tickets or gets caught drinking a few beers.

Gerald Harris

Tight End

6′5  280 Lbs.

Harris is a big, strong Texas bred Tight end with a nose for hurting people. He explodes through the pads well on run plays and is exceptional on picking up blitzes by a linebacker. He could be optimal in running situations, especially around the goal line. Harris also possesses good hands and doesn’t drop many balls thrown his way. His downfall however, is his inability to get open on play action as well as poor route running abilities. Since he takes so much pride in his blocking, it is sometimes hard for him to break away and get open, especially with lackluster speed. He couldn’t seem to outrun linebackers or get to the spot on the field where Snead could hit him. Gerald Harris will be a project for any coach looking for a pass catching Tight End, but a jewel for any coach who likes to run the ball outside the tackles.

Good fits: Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars

Projection: Undrafted

Cordera Eason

Running Back

5′10  224 Lbs.

Eason is a quick back who runs the 40 in the neighborhood of 4.5. With good size and good speed, he seems like he should be a good NFL prospect as a change of pace back. The problem with Cordera lies in consistency. He is able to break a few tackles or even get to the outside for a large gain, but often times he gets lost behind his lineman and goes nowhere. He does not have very good field vision and awareness which is why he was a third option for Houston Nutt. Vision is a natural skill that born runners like Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew possess, not something that can be developed. I don’t see Eason as an on-field threat or as a viable option for an NFL team, but I hope he proves me wrong.

Good Fits: Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants

Projection: Undrafted

Shay Hodge

Wide Reciever

6′2  207 Lbs.

In my mind one of the most under appreciated players in the SEC last year was Shay Hodge. Shay runs very clean routes and has great instincts on how to get the ball. He led the SEC in catches and it was no coincidence that he was open so often. Nutt said Hodge is a very coachable player and that has shown in his progress. He has gotten better year to year in his route running as well as his run blocking. He possesses great hands and a good frame, and his athleticism is only mired by his speed. It is one thing to break away from Vanderbilt’s coverage and another thing to break away from an NFL corner’s coverage. Hodge will not be the next Brandon Marshall, but I do think he will be a good possession receiver in the NFL.

Good Fits: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears

Projection: 5th Round

Dexter McCluster

Running Back/Wide Receiver

5′7  175 Lbs.

McCluster was the most dangerous man in college football last year. You may think Best from Cal or Spiller from Clemson, but I’d like for you to ask Lane Kiffin how he enjoyed trying to stop #22. He has exceptional speed and elusiveness, and can find and fit through seems better than anyone I’ve seen play. Scouts and coaches worry about his size, but he turns that negative into a positive. He runs like he’s being chased and is the epitome of a home run threat. He was fumble-prone during his Junior season but improved upon that in his Senior campaign. He can be a great scat back as well as screen/slot reciever who in the open field is lethal. He is not known for his durability, but to injure Dexter McCluster, you’ll have to catch Dexter McCluster.

Good Fits: Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles

Projection: 3rd Round

Jevan Snead

Quarterback

6′3  215 Lbs.

The signal-caller for Ole Miss is probably one of the most difficult players to assess if you’re an NFL GM. He has all of the physical tools: huge arm, tall frame, quick feet. But then again, he does not have the “entangibles” that make quarterbacks sexy to franchises. He does not have proven confidence which is evident by his decommitment from Florida because of Tim Tebow, and his transferring out of Texas due to Colt McCoy. Also, he has not shown that he can bounce back from poor decision making. On the other hand, he did show that he could win big games and also lead a team when they needed to be led (see Florida ‘08 and Texas Tech ‘09). Many of his interceptions can be attributed to atrocious blocking as well as miscommunication between his receivers and the coaches. In my mind, Snead is an NFL-quality quarterback who has all of the tools to make it in the pros, as long as he works on his head case.

Good Fits: Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns

Projection: 3rd Round

That wraps up my assessment of the skill position players from Ole Miss. They are a talented group who I feel have a risk worth taking (Snead), a consistent contributor (Hodge), and a future star in McCluster. Next, I’ll take a look at the big uglys up front from Ole Miss who are off to the draft. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on the prospects or on my thoughts on the prospects. Also, take in a look at my blog at http://lanekiffinsskymiles.blogspot.com/.

This is the system that exists in college football, and it’s patently ridiculous.

On December 10, Notre Dame hired Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly as its new football coach,  just 10 days after Charlie Weis was fired. The Fighting Irish made the announcement several weeks before Cincinnati was to play in its bowl game against Florida.

The Bearcats had a least a small chance of playing Alabama in the BCS national championship game. They might have
if Texas quarterback Colt McCoy didn’t get really lucky against Nebraska in the Big 12 title game.

If you remember, the officials rightly put one second back on the clock after McCoy nearly let the time expire with his ill-advised pass to the sidelines. Hunter Lawrence then kicked a 46-yard field goal to give the Longhorns a 13-12 win over Nebraska and send them into the title game against the Crimson Tide.

If Texas had lost, Cincinnati possibly could have moved up to No. 2  (although it likely would have been TCU) and been matched against Alabama for the national championship.  Kelly revealed that if that scenario had unfolded, he would have stayed behind to coach the Bearcats – even though he already was on Notre Dame’s payroll.

It’s like serving two masters, and it happens a lot in college football, but it has to stop.

Therefore, I would like to make a proposal that has been suggested by others. The NCAA should apopt a rule preventing contact with any coach until his team has played its bowl game. If the rule is broken, the offending school would be subjected to sanctions.

Schools argue they need to have a coach in place early so as not to fall behind in the recruiting process, which  is vital to the success of any program.

That is a legitimate concern, I suppose, but too bad. If a school knows it can’t talk to another coach until after his bowl game, it might be more reluctant to fire its current mentor. And if it does fire its coach at the end of the regular season, it has to wait. That would be the price of making a coaching change.

Look, coaches should be allowed to change jobs just like any other employee (though I do wish more of them  would honor their contracts as long-term deals mean virtually nothing.)

But adopting the above measure would greatly reduce the unseamly process in which coaches flat out lie  (Alabama’s
Nick Saban made lying into an art form.) It also would eliminate the distraction of a coach thinking about his new team while coaching his current one.

Consider the Kelly case.  Once it became obvious Notre Dame wasn’t going to be able to lure Urban Meyer away from
Florida,  Kelly emerged as the Fighting Irish’s No. 1 candidate.

It was easy to make that conclusion. Kelly is Irish and had said in that past that he considered Notre Dame his dream job, which is fine.

But Kelly chided the media when it reported he was at the top of Notre Dame’s list. He told his team he wasn’t leaving Cincinnati. A few days later, he was hired by Notre Dame.

Kelly’s former players felt betrayed, like they were lied to. What else could they conclude?

After the news broke that Kelly was taking the Notre Dame job, he waited three hours to tell his Cincinnati  players.

“He went for the money,” Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyard said at the time. “I’m fairly disgusted with the situation, that they let it last this long.”

Let’s suppose the NCAA actually responds in a proactive manner and makes schools wait before they can hire football coaches. Would it completely end the lying, the disingenuousness? Unfortunately, those things always will be part of big-time college football as long as coach are given million dollar contracts with pressure to win immediately.

But at least

Brian Kelly

the shady back-room deals wouldn’t go down while a team is preparing for a bowl game.

Many teams were ready to make some moves when free agency officially kicked off on Friday. Many of the moves have the potential to have a significant impact on the NFL landscape next season. 

Chicago has improved their defense by signing one of the most intense pass rushers in the game in Julius Peppers. With the Bears set to play two of the best passing attacks in Green Bay and Minnesota (if Favre returns), Peppers can definitely have a significant impact within the division alone. 

Brandon Manumaleuna

 

Chester Taylor was also added to give the Chicago backfield some depth and options. Sophomore Matt Forte suffered the dreaded slump last year; the addition of Taylor will not only take pressure off the developing running back, but will give Cutler an excellent pass receiver out of the backfield. The addition of 6’2”, 295 pound tight end Brandon Manumaleuna stands to make the holes for Taylor and Forte a little bigger as well. 

The two teams benefiting the most so far are easily the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens. 

Antonio Cromartie

New York has no made many moves just yet, but what they have done has been significant. In trading for Antonio Cromartie, the already tough Jets defense might have become unstoppable. Along with arguably the best cornerback in the league in Darrelle Revis on the other side, teams will be hard pressed to match last season’s average yards per game. Last season the pass defense only allowed an average of 157 yards a game (1^st in the NFL) and less than 100 yards a game on the ground (8^th). 

The Jets may lose Thomas Jones, but they are hopeful that they will resign him still. With the promise that Mark Sanchez started to show in the playoffs in 2009 and Braylon Edwards starting to regain the form that made him a top receiver, New York will likely not need help to make the playoffs next season. 

Anquan Boldin

 

Baltimore went from being an outside contender for next year’s Super Bowl to a top contender with the addition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals. Boldin has been one of the biggest and best receivers since coming into the NFL in 2003. With veteran Derek Mason (assuming he does not retire) and newly signed Donte’ Stallworth, Joe Flacco will not have a shortage of receivers to throw to in 2010. Since defenses will also have to respect the running game backed by Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le’Ron McClain chances are strong that the Ravens offense will rank much higher than it did in 2009 (13^th). 

Elvis Dumervil

 

There are still many other free agents that are up for grabs this off-season as well. Brandon Marshall is likely to be finding himself a new home. Shawne Merriman could find himself somewhere other than San Diego next season. Terrel Owens proved he can still play and will end up somewhere. LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Thomas Jones, and Ronnie Brown are all on the market. Denver may have to worry about losing defensive lineman and 2009 sack leader Elvis Dumervil as well as Marshall. 

And the bidding has only just begun. 

Guy Morriss

It seems that Guy Morriss, the head football coach at Division II Texas A&M-Commerce, isn’t too keen on the concept of freedom of the press.

If you don’t remember Morriss, he was fired at Baylor following the Bears’ 12th consecutive losing season in 2007 (the coach with the extra ‘S” in his last name was responsible for only five of those campaigns, posting a robust record of 18-40).

Anyway, Morriss didn’t like the story the school newspaper – The East Texan – printed about two of his players getting arrested on drug charges.

So, some of Morriss’ players engaged in their unique form of censorship. They stole all 2,000 copies of the newspaper
distributed on campus. The First Amendment be damned.

What’s especially appalling, however, is that Morriss condoned the act. During an interview with authorities, he repeatedly insisted that the story in the newspaper was “crap.”

“I am proud of my players for doing that,” Morriss said, according to the police report. “This was the best team building exercise we have ever done.”

But is the story true or not? Here’s the first two paragraphs of the article the team wanted surpressed:

“Students Dionte Garrett and Deandre’ Bowers were arrested Feb. 19 after several bags of marijuana, pills and other drug paraphernalia were found in apartment A1 of McGill Hall by Sgt. Chris Vaughan of the Commerce Police Department.

The students are both football players for Texas A&M University-Commerce.”

According to police reports, video footage was attained of players Stephen DeGrate and Dakota Burch removing  copies of the March 3 issue of The East Texan.

Morriss argued that taking the newspapers couldn’t be classified as theft because they are free. However, only the first copy is free. Each additional copy costs 25 cents. James Bright, the editor of the newspaper and author of the story, estimated the cost to be more than $1,000.

An attorney with the Student Press Law Center told the Texas A&M Battalion that the players acted illegally, but Morrisss still laughed it off.

When told by police that a prosecutor would decide whether the incident would be considered theft, Morriss said, “Then I guess I will be the first one out of the door in handcuffs.”

I not sure if this incident rises to the level of an actual crime, and it’s probably not enough for Morriss to lose his job.

But it sends a terrible message, of course, and is symptomatic of a bigger problem. Coaches sometimes become so tunnel-visioned, so insulated, they think they can do anything they want.

Texas A&M Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper said an “error in judgement” was made by the players and expected Morriss to apologize.

Two days after the newspapers were stolen, Bright was still waiting for that apology. If Morriss doesn’t follow through, then he should be disciplined. Suspend him for the 2010 season opener.

As a postscript to the story, Texas A&M Commerce president Dan Jones released a statement Friday, defending Morriss.

Jones said that Morris had no advance knowledge of the incident (should we really buy that?)  He also indicated that the University Police Department determined there wasn’t enough evidence to prosecute.

Jones further stated that Morriss’ comments about a “team-building exercise” were made in jest.

But even if Morriss was joking – and I’m not convinced he was – his reaction is still inappropriate.

Moreover, no one has denied that the players stole the newspapers. Even if that isn’t classified as a crime, it’s still wrong, and perhaps they should be suspended as well.

It happens every off-season. For one reason or another, whether a team does not want to pay him or can not afford to pay the player’s ego enough, they have to let him go. Some moves are not too surprising while others have the potential to seriously change the landscape in the 2010 season.

Julius Peppers has made his desire to no longer be a Carolina Panther well known, but Jake Delhommehas beaten him to the punch. In an expected move after a season that saw the former Pro Bowler throw 18 interceptions in only 11 games Delhomme was released. The only surprise about his release is that it came after the 2009 season rather than before. After his disastrous 6 interception performance in the 2008 playoff lost against the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals many thought the veteran would have been looking for a new home. Instead he was given a fairly generous contract extension; Delhomme is in line to get $12.5 million in guaranteed money.

Indianapolismay be looking to go in a different defensive direction by allowing Marlin Jackson and Raheem Brock to become unrestricted free agents. Teams will have a much easier time dealing with Dwight Freeney next season if the Colts do not replace Brock at defensive end. No one that logged significant time in the secondary for Indianapolis made more than $1 million last year (Bob Sanders was injured for most of the 2009 season; Aaron Francicso made $804,440). As well as they played there was no way they could keep the unit intact. Super Bowl veteran Jackson became the casualty.

The Colt defense could really be in trouble if they are unable to lock linebacker Gary Brackettinto a contract. As of Thursday night, a deal had yet to be reached leaving open the possibility for Brackett to test the market.

Jackson and Brock are not the only defensive stalwarts on the move. The Chargers have been shopping around Antonio Cromartie whom they have finally moved to the Jets. Arizona has let go part of their secondary as well and released safety Antrel Rolle. Chances are high that the Cardinals will also be without inside linebacker Karlos Dansby as well.

A trio of running backs have already said goodbye to their teams. LaDainian Tomlinson will no longer be a San Diego Chargers after nine years. Donovan McNabb will no longer have one of the best outlets in the game with Brian Westbrook getting released. In the more surprising move of the three, Thomas Jones was let go by the New York Jets after notching career highs in carries, yards, and touchdowns.

Jamal Lewis fell victim to a season of offensive ineptitude in Cleveland and was let go from the Browns after three seasons. Minnesota may be willing to wait on Brett Favre to make his decision, but they may be willing to let Chester Taylor go.

In many cases, players are being released for a perceived lack of performance or inability to continue performing due to increased injury concerns. In many more it seems that players are being let go or being allowed to test the market due to financial issues. Arizona has already said they would like to see Rolle back; it will undoubtedly be at a lower price if he is unable to sign on with anyone else. The Jets have expressed an interest in resigning Jones whom they cut to avoid paying his roster bonus (which is also why Rolle was cut).

What makes many of these moves interesting is that with the likelihood of an uncapped year on the way in 2010 teams appear to be cutting costs. It would not be surprising to see some teams take advantage of the lack of a salary cap to buy a Super Bowl next season much like the best teams in baseball are accused of doing year in and year out with the World Series . The 2009 World Series Champion New York Yankees paid there players more than $200 million while the Florida Marlins only dished out about $36 million.

Many teams are undoubtedly hoping to get most of their unrestricted free agents back, but at a lower salary. It will be interesting to see what some teams are going to be willing to do as the unrestricted free agency period continues. However, there are many owners that have said there spending habits will not change, uncapped season or not.

Only time will tell.

Tim Tebow

By Bob Birge  

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, CBS faced heavy criticism from pro choice groups who were angry that the network decided to air an ad featuring former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam.
 
In the 30-second spot, which was sponsored by Focus on the Family of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Pam Tebow talked about how she had a difficult pregnancy with Tim.
 
That baby grew up to be a football player and won two national championships with the Gators. Tim Tebow also was the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner.
 
“I call him my miracle baby,” Mrs Tebow says in the ad. “He almost didn’t make it into the world.”
 
Personally, I found the add to be tame; there was no mention of the word “abortion.” Really, it wasn’t so much anti-abortion as pro-life.
 
Still, the intent here is not to get into a debate about abortion. A college football web site should be the last place where a discussion like that takes place, or even if the Super Bowl was the appropriate forum to show the ad in the first place.
 
The point is, that regardless of your view on the matter, you have to admire Tim Tebow for taking a stand, something most professional athletes are loathe to do.
 
Think about it. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single big-time athlete willing to speak out about a hot button issue. Tiger Woods certainly doesn’t, and even Deter Jeter, who has maintained a pristine image throughout his 14 seasons with the New York Yankees, doesn’t.
 
It is much safer – and much easier – for athletes to straddle the fence and speak as if they are reading from a press release. Woods and Jeter have mastered that art form.
 
Jeter, who won his fifth World Series ring with the Yankees in November, is beloved in New York. But if you listen to his interviews, the man speaks in platitudes, basically saying nothing. Jeter religiously guards his privacy, and  that is his right.
 
But that is why Tim Tebow is a breath of fresh air, a different type of athlete. In the three summers before enrolling at Florida, young Tim traveled to the Philippines – where he was born – to help his father’s orphanage and missionary work.
 
During his career at Florida, Tebow established a record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (57) in the
history of the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). Despite his success with the Gators, however, there  is no guarantee he will make it in the NFL.
 
No quarterback who played in a spread offense in college, as Tebow did at Florida, has enjoyed a successful NFL career, and he did himself no favors at the Senior Bowl.  He had trouble with his footwork, seemed fixated on throwing to the same receiver too much and had trouble with the seemingly rudimentary task of handling snaps (Remember, Tebow played primarily in the shotgun formation at Florida).
 
Still, you can’t help but root for a kid like Tim Tebow. You hope that he can use his intangibles – work ethic, character and intelligence – to overcome the mechanical flows.
 
Tebow has not been projected as a high pick in the NFL draft in April, though there has been some speculation that the Jacksonville Jaguars could take him with their first-round choice.
 
The Jaguars have encountered attendance problems, and Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver could be interested in
Tebow, not so much to win games but to put more fannies in the seats.
 
I fear, however, that going to Jacksonville would not be in Tebow’s best interests. It could put too much pressure on the kid to succeed in his home state.”

Every year the NFL has a committee that gets together to discuss some potential rule changes intended on making the game more exciting for the fans and safer for the players. However, with some of the rules being discussed owners may soon find that their product is a lot less appealing.

One possible change involves the overtime rules. Overtime has always been played in a sudden death format for the playoffs and since 1974 for regular season games. Fans and analysts have argued for years that both teams should have a chance to score in overtime, yet the rule has remained unchanged.

However, when the NFL Rules Committee meets next month they will be discussing altering the rule to give both teams a chance to score. With the Vikings being eliminated last season during the NFC championship game in overtime without touching the ball- and New Orleans going onto win the Super Bowl- there are many that would at least like to see the rules change for the playoffs.

The majority of the proposed changes are geared towards safety. This past season saw a number of marquee players go down due to concussions. With increased concern over health issues that can develop over time due to repeated blows to the head, owners are starting to become more concerned over protecting players.

A number of rules were implemented last season intended on protecting players. The majority of rules were intended to prevent blows to the head. With the number of players with concussions last season, owners are considering further safety oriented rule changes.

The focus is generally on protecting defenseless players. Referees may have to be quick blowing the whistle on running plays if the rule is changed to recognize a running back whose forward progress has been stopped to be considered defenseless. Wide receivers are considered defenseless when reaching out for a pass; one proposed change may give them two moves after catching the ball before they can get hit.

While health is always a concern, owners may want to be careful that they do not skew the rules of the game so much in favor of the offense that fans begin to lose interest. If receivers can catch balls without being contested it will be close to impossible for teams to defend against the pass (with all the rules already in place to protect quarterbacks). Good running backs make their money by breaking tackles so how is a referee suppose to judge exactly when forward progress is over?

Concussions are a terrible thing as are the health issues that can result from them. Hearing the stories about players that have serious issues long after there playing days are done is sad to hear. On the other hand, if rules are altered too much than the game stands the risk of no longer being the game beloved by millions around the world.

NFL football players are aware of the risk when they play. Most have been playing there whole life and probably consider themselves lucky to still be playing. Those same players also know that injuries are apart of the game. No one forces these guys to play. Perhaps instead of diluting the quality of the game the owners should look at increasing health benefits to retired players or in improved equipment design.

Before we spend too much time worrying about the health of professional athletes we should take a look at some other dangerous jobs. The NFL estimates there are about 100 concussions annually. To date over 4000 soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq with another 31,000 injured. Over a hundred police officers died in the line of duty (124). Nearly a hundred firefighters (93) lost their lives in 2009, 32 just during football season.

Those guys did not make millions either.

Pain and suffering on the football field is something that just comes with being a professional football player. However, there are many players that experience pain and suffering off the field even more than they do on it.

For the last season, the media has done a great job of portraying Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall as somewhat of a selfish brat; someone that did not care how his behavior affected the team nor for how a professional should carry himself. His suspension prior to the beginning of the season was well publicized and put Marshall in a pretty bad light. The video of him punting a ball away instead of handing it to the ball boy was shown all over ESPN and other sports broadcasts. Marshall would later be suspended for the season finale, a game that had they won they would have still mathematically been alive for a playoff berth.

What people failed to take into consideration was the possible pain and suffering that Marshall was likely going through due to the death of his friend, Darent Willliams. Williams was killed in a fight outside of a night club that was hosting a New Year’s Eve/ Kenyon Martin birthday party on New Year’s Eve of 2007. Marshall, Williams, and other Broncos were in attendance that night.

Losing a loved one or friend is a difficult, but when they are murdered it becomes even harder to process and deal with. It is likely that Marshall has struggled with the event, possibly even blaming himself. Since the event is something that Marshall has not spoken about publicly, it is hard to know how well or even if he is dealing with the loss of his friend. Often times we assume no news is good news; since Marshall has been mum about the night then he must be fine.

That could not be further from the truth. His DUI stop later that year (October 22) shows that there was more underneath the surface. During the stop, Marshall asked officers what they were doing to find Williams’ killer. Several times he expressed his hatred for the city of Denver and his desire to leave it.

Often times after a traumatic event like the violent death of a friend, people need a change of scenery. Sometimes this is something they are aware of and are able to do on their own. Other times it is something that simmers below the surface, often bubbling over and causing the person to act in ways they normally would not.

Acting in an unprofessional manner is not excusable, but in this case there very well may be circumstances that significantly contributed to Marshall’s on-field issues. While it would be understandable that the Broncos would not want to lose one of the best receivers in the NFLwithout just compensation, perhaps they could have a little more empathy for Marshall and what he must be going through. Losing a friend in such a violent manner is something you cannot understand how to deal with unless you have been through it.

All considering, are there many of us that would have acted differently were we in Marshall’s shoes?