Breaking Rules: Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston expose flaws in NCAA and in student athletes

The suspension of University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley and the investigation of Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston for violating NCAA rules raise several perplexing questions. Gurley reportedly was paid between $8 and $25 for his autograph, and Winston may have received payment for his signature as well. Hearing and reading of both stories, I’m left to wonder why several times over: why are these student athletes being paid for their autographs? If true, why are they jeopardizing their eligibility? And why do we care?

The fallacy of paying almost famous student athletes for autographs

Paying for an athlete’s autograph, or an athlete being paid for her or his autograph, is a mucky practice at best. I understand the value Walter Payton’s or Babe Ruth’s autograph has since it’s no longer possible to acquire it. I also understand the value that the autograph of iconic living athletes such as Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, LeBron James hold.

But Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston are now, like Johnny Manziel was last year, student athletes. They are outstanding student athletes and are regarded as excellent professional prospects, but the height and longevity of their fame, and thus the value of their signatures, is far from certain. That they may have been paid for their signatures, and that fans would pay for their signatures, is silly. There’s no other way to put it.

It’s the wrong way to show support and admiration for student athletes. Attend their games and watch them on television. Celebrate their achievement on the field and in the classroom. Donate the money that would be spent on Todd Gurley’s autograph to the University of Georgia. Ultimately, it’s a more meaningful investment that will produce a greater return, both for you and for everyone else.

The it-may-be-a-stupid-rule-but-it’s-still-a-rule-and-you-knew-it-was-a-rule frustration

I’ll address the stupidity of the NCAA regulations in question next, but first, attention needs to be brought to the astonishingly stupid decision-making shown by Gurley and Winston if they did in fact accept money for their autographs. Doing so is a clear violation of NCAA rule, one that other high profile student athletes have been caught breaking in recent years. There’s no fathomable excuse aside from hubris as to why these young men would put themselves in this position.

They knew the rules. They knew the potential consequences, both for themselves and for their teams. If the allegations are true, then both Gurley and Winston gambled potential national championships and Heisman trophy awards for a less-than-significant sum of money. There’s no sympathy to be had for either student.

It’s a stupid rule

It amazes me that whenever an incident like this is reported, it’s used as justification for why we need to pay NCAA student athletes. As if paying athletes will somehow curb such instances of greed. While I continue to find paying student athletes a flawed idea, I do support the deregulation of student life. NCAA student athletes deserve to enjoy the freedoms enjoyed by the students who share their campuses. And they deserve to receive compensation when the NCAA, their schools and their business partners profit off of their achievements.

It’s as stupid that the NCAA limits a student athlete’s ability to earn money on her or his name as it is stupid that the student athlete would be able to earn money simply for her or his signature. Instead of trying to catch student athletes breaking one of far too many nonsensical regulations on their conduct, the NCAA should focus on supporting its student athletes by creating clear, concise rules that make sense and addressing larger issues such as medical coverage, scholarship guarantees, academic integrity and conference realignment.

It’s disheartening as both a college football fan and a higher education administrator to see these student athletes hurt themselves and their teams. Todd Gurley and Jameis Winston may both be excellent NFL players. But right now the primary purpose of their attendance at the University of Georgia and Florida State University is to acquire an education. That of course is not the reality of big time college athletics. We can all do our part to make sure it is.

The NFL has a due process problem.

Due process is important, but so is respect for it. As a fan of professional sports, it’s sad to see athletes and their employers hiding behind legal due process rights. We do need to pump the brakes on clamoring for suspensions every time a professional athlete is accused of a crime. But at the same time, we don’t need to pretend as though evidence of a disturbing incident doesn’t exist.

Roger Goodell made his first public appearance in weeks yesterday, admitting that the NFL did not have a consistent approach in place to deal with personal conduct violations by its players1. Contrary to Mr. Goodell’s contrived comments, I’d argue the league’s approach was astonishingly consistent. In the cases of Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Adrian Peterson, the NFL’s reaction was inaction. The league either waited for the legal process to exhaust itself before imposing punishment that served only to insult and anger large segments of the league’s fan base, or desired to do nothing until public opinion and, more importantly, corporate sponsors demanded different.

1. Conveniently, Goodell did not mention the league’s dissatisfying treatment of Jim Irsay’s criminal behavior this year.

There’s nothing wrong with showing patience and prudence when such situations occur. An accusation does not automatically equate to guilt, and high profile athletes and executives are targets for false accusations. But in the cases highlighted in the media in recent weeks, there is known and documented evidence that the awful events alleged are not a product of fabrication2.

2. This is definitely true with regards to Peterson, Rice, Hardy and now Jonathan Dwyer. Ray McDonald’s domestic violence case remains under investigation.

Thus, by delaying its action and taking a passive stance, the NFL has opted for cowardice under the guise of due process. As Mike Greenberg said last week on ESPN Radio’s Mike and Mike, “the NFL and the league owners3 have shown a vacuum of leadership when handling personal conduct issues.” Moreover, the league’s approach of inaction has allowed the players accused and the teams they play for to attempt to use due process to maintain their eligibility. It’s a gross act that defies the intent of the law and shows enormous disrespect to the victims of these acts and the millions of fans who love football and want to cheer on their favorite players and teams on Sundays.

3. And don’t forget, the distinction between the NFL league office and the ownership is a thin, blurred line at best.

Ultimately, the NFL did find a moderate, sensible approach by placing players on an exempt list, upon which they are deactivated and not playing but still maintain their salaries and place on their teams. This shows respect for due process of law, while not hiding behind it. It’s the direction the league and the teams affected should have gone from the start. Furthermore, it encourages players facing charges to attempt to resolve their cases swiftly, rather than relying on the slow hands of justice to keep them activated and on the field.

The NFL is examining its policies regarding personal conduct and especially domestic violence. Hopefully the NFL will understand that the “wait and see” approach doesn’t work. Hopefully the league recognizes the failings of its leadership, and puts new leaders in place who will treat such matters with the appropriate sensitivity and severity.

NFL’s Failings Don’t End with Goodell

Roger Goodell’s tenure as NFL Commissioner is heading towards an abrupt end. It has to be. Since 2006, the NFL has experienced unparalleled growth in revenues, TV ratings, media attention and more. The league boasts the capability to dominate the sports news cycle 52 weeks a year. Yet during this time, the NFL’s reputation and public perception has taken numerous hits on numerous fronts, and Roger Goodell has been at fault every time.

This is the public perception of course, and as with most perceptions, there is a degree of truth to it. Mr. Goodell’s incompetence during his eight year tenure as NFL Commissioner is both gross and well-documented. His mishandling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident in a way that became hurtful and deceitful will likely be the final chapter in his dubious legacy.

But to view Roger Goodell as being solely responsible, or the leader of an organization independent of its membership that shoulders the burden of responsibility, is a departure from the reality of his position. Mr. Goodell’s job is to be held responsible for the decisions and actions of the NFL owners. “The NFL” is the 321 men and women who own its franchises. Mr. Goodell is their public face when they don’t want to show face themselves. His job is to absorb the public backlash when the league acts in a way that is unpopular with its fans, and he’s good at it, despite how bad he is at actually being the NFL Commissioner.

1. 31 men and women, and the Packers shareholders.

Of course, the NFL Commissioner is more than a spokesperson. Mr. Goodell is more akin to a 33rd owner in the league, the chairman of the board of NFL ownership. The point is that Mr. Goodell does not act independent of the rest of the NFL ownership.

"Roger Goodell doesn't set the culture of the NFL, he only reflects it. Getting rid of him will not fix the problem." - @katefagan3 on SC
— David Scott (@ESPNprDScott) September 10, 2014

The policies and decisions that Roger Goodell announces to the public are carefully sourced from and counseled by the NFL’s owners. When Ray Rice is suspended for two games, or the NFL decides to obfuscate the truth regarding how much it knew or saw of Rice and Janay Palmer’s casino elevator ride, no one person or organization is acting alone. No team’s fans have the luxury of righteousness. Every team is part of a league that has shamed itself, and every owner and organization are part of that shame.

The saddest part of all of this is that I love football! I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, where Friday nights are synonymous with football the same way they are in Texas. I loved going to those games as a child and an adolescent, and I love watching football as an adult. No sport is more engrossing and fascinating. It’s one of my biggest regrets in life that I never played organized football. I don’t even think I would have been good - I just wish I played! Because that's the emotion I experience every Sunday, September through early February.

Last week, I felt embarrassed to be a football fan. Programs on ESPN and the NFL network I typically enjoy watching, podcasts and sports radio I typically enjoy listening to, made me feel uncomfortable. I felt like I was perpetrating something wrong. There’s danger in being a passionate supporter of anything in that passion can easily become blind devotion.

I don’t expect NFL players, or NFL coaches, owners and league officials, to be perfect. But being an NFL player, coach, owner or league official marks a significant level of success in life. And with that success comes a heightened level of responsibility. Far too often, talent and money prevail over ethics and humanity. The NFL has been reactive in its approach to personal conduct. It sets penalties rather than set standards. Owners worry about one thing and one thing only - money. I get that - their teams are their businesses, and as a league the profitability of one franchise helps the other 31. But I don't get the total willingness to compromise what is right for what will make the most money, or cause the least backlash.

If Robert Kraft, Art Rooney, John Mara and the rest of the NFL owners remove Mr. Goodell from his post, they’ll likely be viewed as the heroes, as the good guys. But they’re not the heroes. They’re not the good guys. They’re just guys. And they’re as responsible for the mess the NFL finds itself in as much and probably more than Roger Goodell.