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The bounty issue, though, is a delicate one for the NFL. Though the league thrives on controlled violence, it must also show it cares about the safety of its players. That's particularly true now with some 1,200 former players suing the league over health and safety issues, and more joining in almost every day.
Some are big names from the past, putting real faces to an issue that could haunt the league for years. They're suffering because of what happened to them on the football field, and the NFL can hardly begin to defend itself if it doesn't come down hard on the blatantly outrageous conduct by the Saints.
Unlike his predecessors, Goodell seems to get it. He's cracked down on illegal hits, implemented rules to deal with concussions, and served notice that unnecessary violence on the field won't be tolerated. So far, he's also earned his stripes as the top cop in the bounty scandal, sticking to his tough suspensions despite protests from some corners that what the Saints did was nothing worse than what other teams have done for years.
Fears that the game will somehow evolve into flag football because of his actions are overblown and illogical. The NFL became America's favorite sport by giving us hard-hitting mayhem on the field, and the billions of dollars in TV contracts recently negotiated by the league is an indication its biggest business partners don't believe that is going to change.
There will, undoubtedly, be more emphasis on player safety and there's nothing wrong with that. That's particularly true when it comes to concussions and head injuries, an area the NFL neglected far too many years and whose former players now are paying the price.
The draft kicks off Thursday with Luck, Griffin and dozens of others finally realizing their dream of playing in the NFL.
Part of Goodell's responsibility is to make sure they not only enjoy long careers, but healthy lives once they're done.
[Associated Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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