Somehow lost (at least by us) in the public griping by Steelers safety Ryan Clark regarding certain aspects of the new CBA is the fact that Clark and radio host Joe Bendel nearly came to blows at training camp on Wednesday.
According to Scott Brown of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the trouble began after Bendel asked Clark whether his complaints against Commissioner Roger Goodell and the owners generally apply to Steelers owner Art Rooney, II.
The situation thereafter escalated, and a member of the Steelers P.R. staff along with safety Will Allen had to defuse the situation.
Given that the personal conduct policy also encompasses workplace violence, it would be ironic (and perhaps fitting) if Clark were investigated and ultimately disciplined under the personal conduct policy for expressing his feelings about the personal conduct policy.
Though Steelers players often make good points about the league’s current procedures for fines arising from on-field and off-field conduct, the manner in which they express those views sometimes undermines their position. If they could learn how to communicate their beliefs without using gay slurs, without failing to understand the procedures currently in place, and without allowing their emotions to nearly lead to violence, more people would listen to what they have to say.