AP
On Tuesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent met with 11 former players in an effort to identify potential changes to the personal conduct policy. Vincent has provided an update on the session to PFT.
“At today’s meeting, the overriding theme among our former players was restoring respect for the game and our communities by strengthening personal conduct policy and standards,” Vincent said. “Consistent among these thought leaders was the desire to achieve excellence and hold all of our players and employees accountable to the core values of the NFL.”
Goodell and Vincent met with Mike Singletary, Willie McGinest, Roman Oben, Eddie Mason, Matt Birk, Patrick Kerney, Robert Porcher, Charles Way, Scott Turner, Tony Paige, and Marty Lyons.
“These are men that represented a trans-generational group of players,” Vincent said. “Some played in the ‘80s, the ‘90s and more recently. They brought to the table both history and institutional knowledge of how the league handled issues in the past, the respect players had and should have for their communities, and the honor it is to play in the NFL. . . . We discussed topics such as respect for excellence, early intervention, respect for the game, and the importance of integrity and high standards. These legends of our game emphasized establishing and maintaining accountability for everyone in the NFL family.”
Vincent explained that several additional meetings will be held with former players. Goodell and Vincent also will meet with active players.
“I believe their input is critically important,” Vincent said of current players, adding that those meetings will happen after the season ends.
“As we move forward to address this critically important issue, the input and leadership of these former players will play a vital role in the solutions we craft to address workplace accountability and expectations,” Vincent added. “I look forward to participating in this process.”
While the process presumably will result in improved and consistent procedures and practices for determining whether a player has violated the NFL’s rules, it’s clear that NFL players will continue to be held to a high standard of conduct, both on and off the field.