Steelers' Troy Polamalu: Roger Goodell has too much power over NFL players

 
Pittsburgh Steelers S Troy Polamalu took aim at Roger Goodell on Wednesday when he alleged that the NFL commissioner has too much power over the league's players.

Polamalu's teammate, LB James Harrison, was fined $20,000 this week and met with Goodell to discuss the league's rigorous enforcement of its policy against illegal hits.

The NFL, Polamalu alleged in remarks to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has overreacted with its ramping-up of its enforcement, and he questioned the unilateral power Goodell has to discipline players:

"You know, he's got all the power; that may be part of the problem, that there needs to be some type of separation of power like our government. There should be some type of players involved in decisions over how much people should be fined or what they should be fined for, as well as coaches, as well as front office people.

"I don't think it should be just totally based on what two or three people may say who are totally away from the game. I think it should be some of the players who are currently playing."

Polamalu said he thinks players' complaints to Goodell fall on "deaf ears."

ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth agreed with Polamalu in remarks on SportsCenter. He argued that a group of people, including former players, should be involved in the process of administering discipline.

"It has to be people that aren't being paid by the league to review things," Schlereth said.

source: Steelers' Troy Polamalu: Roger Goodell has too much power over NFL players - The Huddle: Football News from the NFL - USATODAY.com


I understand that the NFL may not be like what it once was but this is a new era, and they're just trying to protect the players in the long term, which isn't bad. But then again the players are the ones that are putting themselves at risk. And there are plenty of offensive players who agree with the defensive players that the whole movement is bullshit.