Cory's Corner: Roger Goodell Must Send A Message

How does NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handle Robert Kraft getting charged with two counts of first degree solicitation?

Once again all eyes are now on Roger Goodell. 

Now that Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been charged with two counts of first degree prostitution solicitation, the question now rests with Goodell. Remember, Goodell has the Personal Conduct Policy to protect the “Shield.” However, if Kraft is guilty, what will Goodell do? If convicted, Kraft could face one year in jail, a $5,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. 

It’s been no secret that Goodell has been on the side of the owners as the league has welcomed a windfall of money. In 2016, the NFL had $900 in revenue and in 2017 that number was $14.2 billion. The target remains $25 billion by 2027. 

Goodell is basically a liaison of the owners because he knows he must have the trust of the owners in order to make money. Whether that means putting player safety in danger with Thursday Night Football or games in London is a small price to pay when the league can make another billion dollars. 

But what Kraft did doesn’t affect wins and losses. Suspending Kraft from the stadium really isn’t going to matter because what effect, if any, does he have in the day-to-day football operations of the Patriots? And what’s the point of a fine? Kraft has a net worth of $6.6 billion. 

The league fined Colts owner Jim Irsay $500,000 and suspended him six games for driving while intoxicated in 2014. I thought that was a light penalty that has taken a hard stance whenever players make mistakes. 

I highly doubt the league will force Kraft to sell the team. However, Goodell can make things difficult for the folks in New England. Why not take away all four compensatory picks for this upcoming draft and take away all of the compensatory picks for 2020 as well? That is two third rounders, a sixth rounder and a seventh rounder for the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Fining a billionaire is a waste of time. And since Kraft isn’t involved in the football operations, suspending him doesn’t do any good. However, he is a very competitive person and it will affect him more if the league goes after something he loves. 

What happened at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla. is bad, but it’s even worse that sex trafficking was present. Obviously Kraft made a misstep, but if he also knew that sex trafficking was going on, Goodell needs to think about kicking him out of the league. 

Obviously, Goodell isn’t expecting players, coaches and front office personnel to act like choirboys. However, he wants them to stop tarnishing the brand and hurting the reputation. The league took a lot of scrutiny when the Ray Rice domestic incident came out and this is pretty bad as well because of the presence of video. 

It doesn’t help that Goodell and Kraft have had their disagreements about how Deflategate was handled. And after Goodell hands down a punishment, all of New England will likely be collectively saying, “Woe is me,” as it gives Goodell a blaming barrage. 

But Goodell can’t go light here. If I was one of the other 30 NFL owners, I wouldn’t like it if Goodell went easy on Kraft. Goodell has assumed the position of judge, jury and executioner. 

It’s time for Goodell to make the tough decision and do something that will make Kraft think twice before soiling the brand again. That’s not easy, because the Patriots have been a financial cornerstone franchise for the last 15 years but it’s something that the NFL must do in order to keep its credibility with its players.  

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (47)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
PatrickGB's picture

February 26, 2019 at 07:44 am

Fining Kraft is a waisted effort. The stink from what he done was not that he was involved in a prostitution sting. It was the sex trafficking thing. Taking away draft picks is a better punishment.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 02:46 pm

To the Author, Cory....

I have to kind of take issue with some of this. I don't see Goodell as a "liaison"....he's elected by the owners. And he's in charge, but if he starts doing things that are unpopular with the owners, he'll be out of a job eventually.

Human trafficking is horrible, and the people that do it are the scum of the Earth. And yes, by participating in the sex business (porn, prostitution, etc.) we encourage and fund it, just like potheads have been enriching cartels for a long time now. It wasn't the intention but it was what was happening.

Let the law handle this. Goodell doesn't need to be involved at all at this point until/unless Kraft is convicted of a crime.

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Coldworld's picture

February 26, 2019 at 04:37 pm

Agreed. If Kraft can be shown to have knowingly funded sex traffickers the law is best placed to martial the evidence. Goodall, of whom I am far from a fan, is not and nor is the NFL. Let those who have the legal right and obligation determine the extent of his legal transgressions.

If he is convicted of abetting sex traffickers then the NFL must take action. However, at that point meaningful action will realistically need to originate from his fellow owners I suspect, albeit Goodall may be the mouthpiece.

If he is simply convicted of paying for sex then I strongly doubt anybody in the NFL ownership or organization is going to do anything beyond, perhaps, PR remorse on Kraft’s part.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 02:47 pm

Deleted duplicate

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John Galt III's picture

February 26, 2019 at 03:58 pm

Roger Goodell left Colon Crapernick kneel and then paid hime $60 million for who knows what. Roger Goodell is incapable of sending a coherent message to a giraffe.

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TKWorldWide's picture

February 26, 2019 at 08:52 pm

I had NO IDEA the league was hurting so badly in 2016!
(My lawn tractor cost more than $900.)

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BradHTX's picture

February 26, 2019 at 10:32 pm

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Could probably pay for your new tractor. Just trying to help...

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Handsback's picture

February 26, 2019 at 07:56 am

Not that I'm siding with Kraft, but I doubt there is any way he knew the massage day spa was dealing in sex trafficking.
Reading from some of the women's story who were victims, they didn't even think of themselves as sex slaves. They become brainwashed and are repeatedly told there is no way out. It's a horrible crime that needs to be stopped.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:20 am

"doubt there is any way he knew..."

It doesn't matter, right? He knew he was engaged in illegal activities with people who where comfortable breaking the law. Anyone by now, who doesn't understand that illicit prostitution may also involve human trafficking is willfully ignorant.

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Since'61's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:26 am

Absolutely correct Jeremy! I agree completely. Thanks, Since '61

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:53 am

People who smoke weed are funding the cartels. People who speed are putting other people at risk.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

5 points
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Coldworld's picture

February 26, 2019 at 04:44 pm

I think we need to be careful before jumping to conclusions the law will not necessarily support. Let’s see what the prosecution can prove.

It bothers me deeply that we live in an age where guilt is assumed from the moment of allegation and the populace heckles for punishment before proof. That’s a slippery slope however tempting this instance might seem.

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mamasboy's picture

February 26, 2019 at 06:09 pm

Actually , pot smokers are not funding the cartels. I'm pretty sure most of the weed consumed here is grown in the U.S. I think you're right though, a lot of people lined up to cast the first stone have done worse, or would if they had the opportunity.

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BradHTX's picture

February 26, 2019 at 10:34 pm

This is true. The cartels deal in much harder, and more profitable, stuff than weed.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:00 pm

No, it is not true. Very recently pot has been more or less legalized. Back in my college days, it was always illegal. It might have been supplied from some guy's back yard in California and sent to a buddy in Wisconsin, etc., but the same principle applies: it probably came from Mexico and was supplied by a cartel and/or local gang.

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PatrickGB's picture

February 26, 2019 at 08:07 am

I agree handsback. But a message needs to be sent by the shield. And the best message is that even an owner is subject to punishment. Not a slap on the hand but real punishment. Men who frequented the places encourages this crime. It’s modern slavery.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 26, 2019 at 10:22 am

" Men who frequented the places encourages this crime. It’s modern slavery."

I guess Las Vegas should be shut down...there's more of these Spa's than drug stores, fast food dumps and giving the number of slot ( idiot ) machines a run for the money.

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TheVOR's picture

February 26, 2019 at 10:56 am

So I don't disagree that people attending, encourages the crime, assuming it is one within the region it's being performed.

I guess I'd also state that nobody should conclude that every women involved in the sex trade is a victim, or is being "human trafficked". There are a lot of willing participants in the sex trade in general. Not everyone in the trade is a victim, or is being forced into it?

Also, the article stated that - "The league fined Colts owner Jim Irsay $50,000 and suspended him six games for driving while intoxicated in 2014. I thought that was a light penalty that has taken a hard stance whenever players make mistakes."

Since when has a player who got a DUI been suspended for 6 games. In fact the players have an offense ladder? 1st offense, x games, 2nd offense, more, third offense more? How is a 6 game suspension and a 50k fine a slap on the hand?

I think a person could attend a business like this, and not make a connection to absolute Sex Trafficking? And again, I'm not defending Bob Kraft, I'm just stating I believe the topic is more vast and complicated than a myopic view or conclusion that all sex trade is sex slavery. Just saying...

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 02:53 pm

If we split a six pack after work and then on your short drive home a cop pulled you over, smelled the beer, tested you and you blew over the limit....

Would you think a $50K fine was getting off light? Would you be OK with being suspended from work......which has nothing to do with your drivine…..for 6 weeks (at no pay, of course)?

I don't want to get political, but a two-tiered justice system is a bad thing.

2 points
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KamThomps's picture

February 26, 2019 at 06:49 pm

I am torn about this one. Human trafficking is a serious issue that needs comprehensive address. However, my feelings about Kraft are complicated. Put aside all the animus regarding his team and I am left with a lonely old man. He lost his beloved with wife to cancer in 2011. Re-marriage at his age -- after a long loving marriage - may be something he could not do.

I do not think he needs to be made an example for this, as regards the NFL. That is people putting their hatred of the Pats above what is actually justice here.

And, this is Goodell's NFl. He let Michael Vick back in and Vick ought to have been slowly dissected alive for his crimes so....

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Skip greenBayless's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:32 pm

Excellent comments KamThomps. I agree. If I walked into one of those places I would not have a clue there was "human trafficking" going on. I almost bet 80% of the men caught including Kraft didn't know either (if there was). I also agree, Kraft is a lonely old man that lost his wife and his new young wife probably has never slept with him. He simply does what most men would do in his situation. He sought out a service to get his needs met though to me the embarrassing thing was how cheap he was. I don't think anything should happen to Kraft other than maybe a a fine. I think the public embarrassment/humiliation of getting his name out there over this incident is enough. My God, we are legalizing marijuana all over the U.S. I think it's due time we do something about legalizing sex. If two willing people want to have sex and someone wants to pay another for it , why the hell not. As Taryn said those places are all over Nevada. It's time to change the laws on this. Kraft might have done some good on this by getting caught up in this.

Dash

3 points
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kevgk's picture

February 26, 2019 at 08:09 am

Yeah, lets give the Patriots another motivation for a superbowl run lol.
Jokes aside, I cant justify punishing a football team because something the owner did that didnt affect football operations. Its isnt Goodell's place to initiate uneven change in football operations. Kraft broke US laws. Let the US government punish him, not the NFL government. He isnt a player, coach, or GM. Hes a glorified shareholder. If his absence starts to affect football operations, then force him to sell. Until that happens, Goodell should have no place in this chain of events and I expect him to do nothing.

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kevgk's picture

February 26, 2019 at 06:13 pm

I would love the downvoters to tell me why it would be okay to punish a football team at all for having a sleazy owner. Confiscating draft picks? really?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:02 pm

Goodell's rationale for not taking draft picks from Indy was that Irsay's DUI didn't affect "competitive balance" and thus should be personal to him.

1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 08:38 am

Yes, but he has publicly supported a political figure who intensely disliked and that means you can't pass up an opportunity to revile him.

He had a happy ending. Big whoop. He has no connection to the trafficking.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:22 am

He funded the trafficking by participating in illegal activities.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:54 am

People who smoke weed fund the cartels.

Glass house, stones?

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

February 26, 2019 at 12:14 pm

Only if they buy it from criminals. I suspect it's hard to realize that that is legal now in a lot of places when you live under a rock.

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 12:51 pm

Dude......how do you think that weed gets into the US? Do you think it's 100% homegrown? Do you not think any hardcore criminals have opened weed shop in Colorado, etc.? as a way to launder money?

If you use illegal drugs, you are funding some bad people. If you watch porn, you are funding some bad people. We should not be so quick to judge because we all live in glass houses.

-1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:06 pm

Jeremy, the principle stated above was Kraft should have known that he MIGHT be supporting sex trafficking. So unless you know for sure that the weed in question is from a now-legal source, you MIGHT be supporting the cartels. And not so long ago, you probably were supporting the cartels instead of some guys garden in his basement.

1 points
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Since'61's picture

February 26, 2019 at 08:50 am

IIRC, the NBA forced the owner of the LA Clippers to sell the team after he was involved in a situation involving the abuse of his girlfriend.

For Kraft to be involved in this type of activity is pretty sleazy especially considering his personal resources. If we was caught twice this time who knows how often this is actually going on and what other sleaze he is engaged in.

Assuming that he is found guilty he should be at least suspended by the league and possibly kicked out of the league.

It's not surprising that an owner who cheats to win is also a criminal. Chuck him, he is a sleaze bag imbecile.
Thanks, Since '61

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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 02:56 pm

I don't think it was abusing his girlfriend. I think it was more the girlfriend sharing recordings where he was very disparaging and bigoted in his opinion of black Americans. It was very disappointing, but not really illegal.

In a league like the NBA, with a workforce like he had...….you can't survive. You have to sell. And the league then forced him to do what everybody knew he had to.

1 points
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TKWorldWide's picture

February 26, 2019 at 04:30 pm

Chuck!

2 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 26, 2019 at 09:05 am

The NFL's revenue's increased from $13.16B in 2016 to $13.68B in 2017.

Jim Irsay was fined $500,000 and suspended for 6 games. $500,000 was the maximum he could be fined, per USAtoday.

However, DeBartolo got fined $1M back in 1999 and NE got fined $1M for deflategate in 2015, so either the rules varied or USAtoday got it wrong.

1 points
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Packer_Fan's picture

February 26, 2019 at 09:18 am

Sorry, but this story is just political correctness gone wrong. It assumes the writer, the readers, the NFL and anyone else who wants their opinion known to be wronged. The NFL only cares because public opinion of their sport may be damaged. None of us have been wronged. The issue is between Kraft and the police. Which I heard is a misdemeanor. Yes, there is a larger issue here, but not at the expense of Kraft, the NFL or the readers. This holier than thou attitude of special interest groups and the media, sorry Cory but you are part of that here, needs to redirected to report just the news, and this story is really not about the NFL or Kraft.

3 points
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vj_ostrowski's picture

February 26, 2019 at 09:27 am

You are brain poisoned by whatever right wing Charlie Kirk bullshit you follow online if you think this has anything to do with “political correctness”, but way to get that talking point edgewise into yet another comments section.

-12 points
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buckybadgerbb's picture

February 26, 2019 at 09:36 am

Dude, it's not politics, it's not about paying for sex.

SEX TRAFFICKING BAD.

But pragmatically, the NFL has to decide if having their most prominent owner mixed up with sex trafficking does hurt their image and bottom line. You may disagree, and I'm fine with that. But to say it has no relevance to the NFL or isn't worthy of discussion is just is a bit "holier than thou" yourself.

7 points
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Packer_Fan's picture

February 26, 2019 at 10:13 am

My point exactly. What does the NFL have to do with sex trafficking? Nothing. One bad actor got caught and will pay dearly. But within 3 weeks there will be no more mention of this. Then no one will care. It will then be "not worth the discussion" And that is what makes it political correctness babble.

2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

February 26, 2019 at 03:00 pm

So, including Goodell, how many people associated with the NFL are involved in sex trafficking?

I'm including not only prostitution, but pornography as well, which is connected in many cases.

So...32 teams with 90 guys on the roster, staffs, front office, scouts, advertising, financial, pro shop, parking, concessions. Oh, and I guess we might as well talk about all the fans in the stand and who watch on TV.

Is this really the rabbit hole we want to jump into?

1 points
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Lphill's picture

February 26, 2019 at 09:27 am

its more embarrassing for him, the guy could have paid to have women sent to him, why he would visit a sleazy place like that makes no sense to me, I think his embarrassment is punishment enough ,its pretty sad actually.

6 points
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Since'61's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:33 am

LP - it is pretty sad. How does someone with his wealth visit a place like that when he has all the resources and more to go out with a woman, treat her respectfully and with mutual consent take it from there.

How does he not think about how embarrassing this is for his family? It makes no sense to me either. Thanks, Since '61

1 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:52 am

It's the inherent nature of human beings to want something that is taboo/illegal at times in their lives. Whether one acts on it or not is another thing but wealth/fame/position certainly doesn't erase that inherent nature.
Look around, so many people of politics,church,business,recreation etc are all involved in illegal things and sex is the largest factor IMO of them all, and yet are given passes, though such is based on which side you stand for or agree with more.
The biggest inherent nature of human beings....hypocrisy.

3 points
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mamasboy's picture

February 26, 2019 at 06:27 pm

$59 for a massage and $79 for the works. Many wealthy people are cheap, that's how they get rich!

1 points
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PatrickGB's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:23 am

It would be hypocritical for the league to punish players for domestic abuse and illegal behavior and then ignore that kind of behavior for an owner. Especially when those victims were victims of sex trafficking. The reference to Vegas is absurd. Sorry taryn.

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TarynsEyes's picture

February 26, 2019 at 04:02 pm

Any massage parlor/Spa that allows a patron to purchase a happen ending, is participating in the illegal sex trade/sale on some level which is more likely being funded by those more deeply involved in the sex trafficking problem.
Escort services are harder to catch because the charge for sex is included in the service. Only when a escort asks for more than the preset cost of the date, can it be found as prostitution and prosecuted. Escort services are again controlled by those running the larger scale crime in some manner via multi-tiered management. The pimp on the street is a sex trafficker even if the girl works for him willingly.
Las Vegas has many arrests in Spa's for sex trafficking...it's rampant...don't be naive.

2 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

February 26, 2019 at 11:11 pm

I think of all the celebrities whose wives are 30 years younger than they are. Guessing a bunch of them have iron-clad pre-nups. Sounds like a simple business arrangement to me. I am sure there are exceptions, of course.

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marpag1's picture

February 27, 2019 at 05:29 am

No one is defending sex trafficking. But the very idea that Americans should somehow take ethical lessons from Rodger Goodell and the National Football League, or the idea that the NFL is somehow responsible to educate America with respect to moral behavior, is beyond dumb.

It's a football league -- not a church, not a criminal justice system -- a football league. How did the NFL ever get involved in the business of being the morality police, the judge, the jury and the executioner? And now they should do this EVEN MORE??

Dumb.

4 points
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