Godfather Goodell

With the news of NFL Commish Roger Goodell climbing Mt. Rainier this week, and Donte Stallworth being released from jail after his 24 day sentence from a DUI manslaughter case, it's a good time to address Goodell, his personal conduct policy, and his rise to the most powerful man in sports.

While most people may cheer Goodell in cleaning up the NFL and implementing his strict personal conduct policy, I'm a little more hesitant to praise a man who has claimed so much power in his short stint as NFL commissioner. Here's a brief profile of the stars of the NFL's personal conduct policy:

PacMan Jones - Suspended for entire 2007 season for numerous arrests and run-ins with the law, including a strip club shooting where he threatened to "make it rain." PacMan was never convicted of any crimes, however, and was again suspended in 2008 for an altercation with his own bodyguard. PacMan is currently without an NFL team.

Chris Henry - Arrested 5 times for various incidents involving cars, guns, and alcohol. Suspended 8 games in 2007 by Goodell but later reinstated and waived by the Bengals. One of countless Bengals to have been in trouble with the law. He's again back with the team for minicamps this year.

Tank Johnson - Suspended for half of 2007 due to weapons charges and a DUI incident. Spent two months in jail for violating probation. Released by the Bears before the season and picked up by Dallas, signed with Cincinnati (oy!) this offseason.

Mike Vick - Everyone knows his story. Served 19 months in prison for his role in a dogfighting

ring. Has been indefinetly suspended by the NFL since August 24, 2007. His hopes to return to the NFL are solely in Goodell's hands.

Donte Stallworth - Convicted of DUI Manslaughter for killing a pedestrian in Miami, FL. Served 24 days in jail, suspended indefinetly by Goodell on June 18, 2009. His future in football is up in the air at this point.

Plaxico Burress - Shot himself in the leg in NYC facing jailtime due to strict city gun laws. His case is currently adjourned and he is hoping to sign with a team to play football in 2009. Goodell has not yet punished Burress for his actions and his impending punishment remains unclear.

This list is merely the players that Goodell has punished in violation of the league's personal conduct policy or is likely to punish. Of course, there are dozens of other players who have been arrested or had trouble with the law, but have escaped punishment. Just google "NFL player arrests" and look at the results for yourself.

Where is the rubric for Goodell to decide who gets suspended and for how long? It certainly can't be jailtime, or what/who is the victim of the crime. Just look at these cases and the inconsistencies that lie within. Paying a debt to society doesn't mean you've paid your debt to Roger Goodell as well.

Let's face it, Roger Goodell is judge, jury, and executioner for the NFL. If Goodell wants Mike Vick to never play again then he won't. Teams wanting to sign Plaxico Burress have to be fearful of Goodell's looming iron fist. Having a conduct policy is fantastic for cleaning up the league, if it is implemented fairly and with some standards. So far, only Roger Goodell has made those decisions. What happens when a league official or coach gets charged or arrested with a serious crime? Will Goodell withstand the heat when he slips up noticeably in assigning these verdicts?

Nobody in sports comes close to the power Goodell wields from the NFL offices. The league would be better off with a committee of professionals, or an arbitrator making these decisions, but they are Goodell's alone. Clearly he is the most powerful man in sports, but that may be a bad thing.