By David Stillwell

Back in the day, I remember football being something different from what it seems to have become. Back then it was positive. My dad watched football and in turn passed the love of the game on to his children.

What has football become today? I hesitate to pass the love of the game onto the young. I don’t want my children to grow up respecting people like Ray Rice and thinking that spousal abuse is remotely acceptable. I don’t want my children to grow up thinking that stealing the other team’s playbook is remotely acceptable. I don’t want my kids to think stealing is the answer to any of the problems that they might face in life. I don’t want my children to think that if hard work is not enough that they should begin to inject steroids into their bodies to make up the difference. I don’t want them to think that substances like steroids, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or what have you are remotely acceptable.

Currently, the big debate in Football is about whether or not the Patriots cheated their way into the top of the teams? Does it matter? The entire NFL seems to be rife with the very types of behaviors that I do not want my children to learn.

Chris Henry, who played for the Bengals starting in 2005, died in 2009 in a motor vehicle accident where he fell from a moving vehicle and died of blunt force trauma to his head. The vehicle was being driven by his fiancé and occurred while they were engaged in some form of a domestic dispute. Not only is that not a way to die, it is a death that is totally preventable. Henry’ has a long list of criminal offenses that involve speeding, DUI, possession of drugs, assault, and even sexual assault. He spent time in jail and was suspended by the Bengals and NFL on multiple occasions… yet after his death a moment of silence was observed for an entire week. This was a young man who had a lot of potential and died before he realized his potential. He is also a role model that I would not want my children to look to as a role model.

Chris Henry’s case is just one of many that seem to be swept under the rug by the NFL, and it’s commissioner Rodger Goodell. It brings us back to the point about the Patriots. Do they steal plays? Did they purposefully under-inflate game balls? For me, it does not matter anymore because I feel like the NFL has let down their fans. Like many other sports, it has become all about money and not about ability, nor honor.

One only has to look back at the Dallas Cowboys to see the lack of honor. Joseph Randle was busted for shoplifting and charged with a class B misdemeanor. This is a man who walked into a department store and purposefully stole items. He was not suspended by the Dallas Cowboys. It was swept under the carpet. There is no honor among thieves. This is also a person who I would not like my children to see as a role model. For that manner, he should not be a role model for any child.

The list goes on and on and on… it has names like Ray Rice who was caught on video beating his wife. Andre Smith of the Bengals was arrested for carrying a loaded weapon. Michael Boley of the New York Giants, who was arrested for child abuse. Amari Spivey of the Detroit Lions, who was arrested for third-degree assault and domestic violence. In 2013, 31 NFL players were arrested following the Super Bowl and start of season. Yet these men are allowed to continue to play. Why? Are there no players of talent that also have integrity? This is no longer a group of people who should be celebrated. The degree of criminal activity within the NFL makes under-inflated footballs seem like child’s play. No, those are not things that I think my children should be exposed to, let alone look up to these people as heroes.

The game of Football has changed from when I was a child. It has become something that is no longer worthy of praise. Yet, every year, parents sign their kids up for football, and many of those kids look up to these men who seem to be failing at being men. Is beating your wife or girlfriend now the go to sport for off season play? Is driving drunk now okay if you play in the NFL? How do you support a team by being a fan when what you are supporting are people who you’d likely not want to move in next door to you? Sadly, this is not just the NFL. It is time to have a reality check on who we support as sports stars and heroes for our children. Who are the hero’s of the NFL?

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