Ed on Harrison, the Steelers, and the NFL

Harrison is an idiot. Ward is a disappointment, a real disappointment. Goodell is a CEO. I'll let you decide which of those characterizations are the harshest.

I agree that Goodell is concerned about a billion dollar industry losing its luster because of rules changes or unappealing, non-eye catching headlines. That's what is strange about this topic. Hits on defenseless players, with the press it receives, probably helps the NFL revenue stream short term. But the long term implications of player lawsuits and rules changes are a serious threat to its continued viability.

Violence sells, look no further than MMA for that validation.

But so do points and I think that's the answer to this for Goodell. Find a way to moderately protect the players (invoke some trivial "rule" that curb's head hunting just enough) and still maintains the excitement of a big hit. And continue to challenge defenses with rules changes that promote high scoring games. Why?

Nobody likes a low scoring game, or a tie - look no further than MLS soccer for that validation.

Now, for the "hating your boss" comments, your two views are interesting. If my boss is Uncle Sam, can I trash him in the papers? America's military sucks! What impact would that have on a sailor if he began criticizing the boot camp approach, the war in Afghanistan, or the anti-terrorist tactics that are being taken. Would that be ok in the same public eye that Harrison is utilizing?

In private business such a non-conformist, whistle blower, or squeaky wheel would probably get fired, or run out of the company under duress assuming they weren't raising something illegal or unethical. Those who fit in these categories just don't last in private business. The most current validation for this is people posting stuff on Facebook and other social media sites about their boss or their company, and being fired over it. There are places where employees can bitch about such matters (glassdoor.com and other similar websites), but most posts are done so anonymously. But because trouble makers, standouts and misfits in professional sports grab headlines, and in doing so build fan interest and revenues for the leagues they represent, they tend to be tolerated to a much greater degree. Examples abound but the one I want to point to specifically is ... you guessed it, Dennis Rodman!