Hurley's Picks: Roger Goodell Deserves Blame For Greg Hardy, Plus Rex's Tricks And Brady's Brilliance
BOSTON (CBS) -- A lot of people are mad these days about Greg Hardy. They're mad that he's playing every Sunday, accepting the adulation from the home crowd after sacking the quarterback or scoring on an interception. They're mad that Jerry Jones not only employs a man who violently beat his girlfriend, but also speaks to that man's leadership qualities. They're mad that Hardy himself has shown no remorse, first joking about the past year of his life and later labeling himself as a victim.
They're mad. And they should be. But if they really want to direct their anger at the right person, they might want to look to the man in charge of it all.
While fans and media members have ranted and raved about the presence of Hardy on a football field, many have let commissioner Roger Goodell off the hook. He did all he could, they say. He kept him off the field last year and the suspension was overturned by an arbitrator, they might add.
This line of thinking extended all the way to the national telecast of Sunday night's Eagles-Cowboys game, when hall of fame broadcaster Bob Costas stood up for Goodell.
Here's what Costas told a national audience while seated on the field at AT&T Stadium, with emphasis added by me:
After initially faltering in the Ray Rice case, Goodell vowed to get it right going forward. And in the Hardy case, he definitely tried to make good on that promise. As part of its own investigation, the league gained access to the photos the public has just now seen. And Goodell suspended Hardy for 10 games at the start of the season -- still not enough for some but a significant step up from past punishments in domestic violence cases.
The players association appealed on Hardy's behalf ... and arbitrator Harold Henderson, citing those precedents, reduced the penalty to four games. That's on Henderson and the players' association. They saw the pictures. They knew the severity of the offense, and they fought for a reduction nonetheless.
Once Henderson ruled, under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, that was that -- nothing else that the commissioner can do, unless and until there is a next time with Greg Hardy.
...
Here's what you can't do this time: You can't blame Roger Goodell.
That was that.
You can't blame Roger Goodell.
What?
If Roger Goodell has proven anything over the past year-and-a-half (beyond his inconceivable incompetence) it's that if there's a case he believes is worth fighting to the extreme, he is willing to do whatever it takes to fight it. If that involves paying millions of dollars for an investigation, if that involves covering up a series of deceitful actions and statements made by his employees, and if that involves taking a case to federal court and then appealing the judge's ruling to a second court, then Roger is willing to fight. It's all about protecting his powers as commissioner, he says.
Yet when Harold Henderson reduced Hardy's punishment by 60 percent, Goodell couldn't do anything? That was that? We can't blame him for forfeiting the fight?
Please.
Look, if Goodell had taken Henderson's decision to court, and if he then appealed that federal judge's ruling, he'd likely be overstepping his bounds as commissioner. Maybe in the end, he'd ultimately lose. But at least he'd be doing it for the right reasons. Who would ever fault the commissioner for taking a stand against a man who was convicted by a North Carolina judge to have beaten a young woman and threatened her life? This is a man whom no commissioner would want representing any league.
Yet Hardy has found his home in the NFL, because it is a league that simply cannot comprehend a proper way to address men who beat women. Roger Goodell proved that in the summer of 2014 with Ray Rice, and his empty words that have followed have done exactly nothing to change the culture in the NFL.
Goodell is the same man who in August 2014 vowed, "We have to do better [on domestic violence]. And we will." Seven months later, Goodell didn't even care to attend Greg Hardy's reinstatement hearing.
One day, things will change. But not until someone with a basic understanding of humanity and decency is in charge.
(Home team in CAPS; Wednesday lines)
NEW YORK JETS (-2.5) over Buffalo
I generally believe, and have generally believed for years, that Rex Ryan is great for business. His brand of boorish behavior played well in the New York media, and his desire to talk a little trash at every given opportunity has always helped ramp up business, so to speak. He may be a clown, but people like watching clowns to see what they'll do next.
So I'm a little surprised (and frankly, disappointed) this week to feel a little bothered by Rex, when he named IK Enemkpali a captain for Jets week. It's an old trick for Rex, assigning a former member of the opposing team as captain for the coin flip, and it's always harmless. But this one rubbed me the wrong way.
By all accounts, Enemkpali committed assault in the Jets locker room when he punched Geno Smith, leaving the quarterback with a broken jaw that cost him his starting job. The only punishment Enemkpali faced was getting released by the Jets, but he was picked up by Ryan's Bills shortly thereafter. He faced a four-game suspension, but the Bills obviously didn't need Enemkpali all that much. The fringe player is seemingly only on the Bills roster as a prop in Rex's odd little game. And, I don't know, I know it's a man's game and all of that, but rewarding the guy for punching a quarterback in the locker room seems perverse.
In a related story, the Jets are better than the Bills, and both teams will be wearing hideous jerseys.
GREEN BAY (-11.5) over Detroit
What is it going to take for Jim Caldwell to get fired? He is like a zombie. You cannot get rid of him.
Carolina (-5.5) over TENNESSEE
(Last year, the NFC South was so putrid that I refused to talk about the games that involved teams from that division. This year, the AFC South has taken the reins as the most embarrassing division in sports, so with an NFC South-AFC South matchup, now's a good time to bring that strategy back. There's a good chance I don't say one more word about the AFC South -- except the Colts, because there's just too much material there.)
I'm not a political guy, so hopefully nobody's offended by my complimenting the president, but I thought Barack Obama dropped the toastiest roast of all time last week.
We should all dream of having such an opportunity to publicly roast a group of people and then knock it out of the park. That's a heck of a roast, Barry.
Chicago (+7) over ST. LOUIS
Both teams are 4-4 against the spread. The last time the Bears got a touchdown or more, they outright beat the Chiefs.
It's not much, but it's ... something?
I also worry about Jeff Fisher's preparation level, after he took time to research exactly how many penalties Rodney Harrison committed in his career. I'm not sure I've ever done this before, but hey Jeff Fisher ... you mad, bro?
(He is, indeed, mad.)
PHILADELPHIA (-6.5) over Miami
The Dolphins either win big (average margin of victory: 18 points) or lose big (average margin of defeat: 18 points). And the Dolphins are going to lose.
Cleveland (+4.5) over PITTSBURGH
Taking the Browns for the second straight week is without a doubt questionable behavior. But it's going to be tough sledding with Landry Jones at the helm of that Pittsburgh offense.
Dallas (+1) over TAMPA BAY
I do find it great that Jerry Jones has sold his soul and, by extension, sullied the reputation of his franchise by signing a repulsive figure like Hardy, and yet he's been rewarded with exactly zero wins for it. That'll likely come to an end in Tampa Bay. But the fact that Jones is going to such lengths to prove he has no morals yet remains incredibly far away from winning a Super Bowl is at least a decent consolation prize in this whole thing.
New Orleans (-1) over WASHINGTON
I hate to take the Saints outside, on grass, in November. I really do. But there's really nothing in the world that could convince me that the Washington Redskins are capable of winning a football game this weekend. I saw them with my own two eyes last week. It was junior varsity.
Jacksonville (+5.5) over BALTIMORE
Discussing Anything Except The AFC South: When you write about sports for a living, sometimes you feel like maybe you don't really do what people might call "important" work. And you see other people doing great things in the world and you're kind of like, "Man. I should do more."
But then you log on to Facebook and see that seemingly thousands of writers are getting paid to write about particular cups at major coffee chains. And then you think, "Hey, at least I'm not doing that."
OAKLAND (-3) over Minnesota
On Sunday, Teddy Bridgewater could be seen lying unconscious on an NFL field.
On Wednesday -- Wednesday! -- Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said this when asked if he expects Bridgewater to play this week: "Yeah, I think so."
Hopefully that Will Smith movie does something to change the way of the NFL. Years of studies and advancements in medical research haven't dented the human consciousness enough to matter, but if I know America, I know that we can be changed by movies. I think. I hope. Good God.
DENVER (-6) over Kansas City
The Broncos just put forth their worst game of the season. Fortunately for them, the Chiefs are coming to town. And not only do the Chiefs stink, but they are also property of the Denver Broncos.
The last time the Chiefs beat the Broncos, it was Jan. 1, 2012. Kyle Orton outgunned Tim Tebow in a 7-3 barn burner. (Tebow went 6-for-22 for 60 yards. Six-for-twenty-two!)
That was a long time ago. In the Peyton Manning era, the Broncos are 7-0 against Kansas City, and that includes a seven-point win two months ago in a game in which the Chiefs held leads of 14-0 and 24-17 late in the fourth.
The Broncos own the Chiefs. Easiest pick of the week.
New England (-7.5) over NEW YORK GIANTS
I've observed what I feel is a bit of over-confidence emanating from this region this week, as just about everyone I've heard talk about this game has said that the Patriots will roll and win by about 20. I'm not saying that won't be the case, I just think the Patriots are playing with fire with their offensive line. Yes, second-year center-turned fill-in guard-turned emergency right tackle Bryan Stork played fine last week, and yes former sixth-lineman-turned practice squadder-turned emergency left guard Cameron Fleming did all right, but that offensive line is thinner than imaginable. Granted, this isn't the Giants pass rush from days of yore (the Giants have just nine sacks on the entire season), but playing on the road with such a shaky offensive line has to be at least a little concerning for Tom Brady.
That being said, the Giants give up 308 passing yards per game, and they've allowed 17 passing touchdowns through nine games this year. They've faced some good quarterbacks (Tony Romo, Drew Brees), some mediocre quarterbacks (Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford), a rookie quarterback (Jameis Winston) and some bad quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins, Tyrod Taylor, Colin Kaepernick, Matt Cassel), and they've allowed those nine passers to compile a passer rating of 90.5.
I just feel like Tom Brady has proven he can excel behind a makeshift offensive line, and the Giants just don't provide enough resistance to make this a game.
Arizona (+3) over SEATTLE
Seahawks fans are going to be so confused when they leave the stadium Sunday night.
"But we're twelves. We're louder than other people! I just don't get it."
CINCINNATI (-10.5) over Houston
Discussing Anything Except The AFC South: Sometimes I'll be listening to a song, and I'll think, "Man, I bet I'm the only person in the world listening to this particular part of this particular song right now." You ever think of that? It's wild. A whole universe of people out there, and you're the only one that's at the bridge in that song from 2003.
Last week: 6-7
Season: 62-67-3
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here. You can email him or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
