By Ben Troupe
SouthernPigskin.com

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Former NFL tight end Ben Troupe is fed up with the behavior of professional football players.

It’s a great day to be alive, football fans! Welcome to the most dangerous blog on the planet, “Troupe Talk”. First and foremost, I want to thank all my dedicated readers and supporters of my blog on all the social media outlets. It is my sincere hope that I bring quality content that creates dialogue, critical thinking, and brings about an awareness through an uncommon perspective. Sit back, relax and enjoy. I will not disappoint.

Th NFL is a very intriguing league because of all its moving parts. Let’s face it, it is the most beloved sport in America because of its popularity and 24-hour coverage, and it has become the best source of entertainment on television. While the NFL has done, and is continuing to do, its due diligence as it pertains to making the league an even bigger and better brand, I am still having a huge problem with its brand ambassadors, meaning the players, not realizing how damaging their actions are. I am talking about player conduct once again.

Now, I understand that with there being so many players, not all of them are going to toe the line. Most of the players actually do the right thing by making sure they stay away from anything that would damage the integrity and image of the league.

Depending on who you are, how great of an asset to your team you are, and how great of an asset to the NFL you are, you get more than your fair share of chances and plenty of slaps on the wrist.

Marcell Dareus, for example, is a first round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills. He is also a Pro Bowler. He recently got pulled over in Alabama for speeding. After getting pulled over, his car was searched and the police found enough of an illegal substance to be deemed a felony possession. A short time after that, Dareus was pulled over again for speeding, but this time he was drag racing with his fellow teammate, Jerry Hughes. In both instances, nothing happened to Dareus, and after the second incident his head coach simply sent him home and told him to come back for mandatory minicamp.

This is the problem right here: the team and head coach not setting a standard and making an example out of Dareus and making him understand that he represents a brand that is bigger than himself. Because of his decisions, he should have to suffer, because as a team and organization, they had to suffer from it.

Due to the fact that Dareus is the superstar of the team and he does not get disciplined, his teammates expect the same treatment. But, once again, this young man is one of the best and most recognizable players on the roster, and he is being counted upon to help this team win games next season. Therefore, he will continue to get the benefit of the doubt.

Darryl Washington, Pro Bowl linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals, is suspended for the entire season for substance abuse. Carson Palmer, quarterback for the Cardinals, said that after Darryl gets reinstated, the team will welcome him back with open arms. Once again, there is nothing wrong with Palmer being a good teammate, but this is a part of the problem because Washington, just like Dareus, is not feeling the full effects of his actions; that is why many of these guys are repeat offenders.

Think about it – how many professions do you get an opportunity to continue to get in trouble and go to jail, but keep your job? How many professions do you get to continue to damage the company or organization’s brand? How many professions do you get to be on the wrong side of the law with charges brought against you and keep your job?

People have been terminated for less. Now, I am not saying that you should just get rid of them after they get in trouble. What I am saying is that the penalties have to get harsher. The consequences have to be more severe or this type of behavior will continue. The key component in all these situations is the NFL’s lack of discipline, because it is enabling these players to think that they will always get another chance and keep their job.

These players are professionals, which means they are the best at what they do. The problem is they are not being held to the highest standard possible. They are not being held to a standard at all; just occasionally being told to go home and come back later when they feel up to it. Therefore, if I am a rookie or an upcoming player to hopefully play in the NFL one day, I know what I can and cannot get away with, and that is a travesty. I think that’s called manipulating the system. Oh, that’s right, there is no system; just some words typed on a document known as the player conduct policy, which at this point has meant little to nothing. Think about it.

Thanks for taking the time to check out the most dangerous blog on the planet, “Troupe Talk”. Make sure to check back frequently with Southern Pigskin, which is all about the fans. It is my hope that you gain a new perspective on these issues and topics. Do not assume; do your research so that you know. Be sure to speak those things that aren’t as though they were. You will become what you see in your mind. The biggest failure is the failure to try. Keep God first through infinity, and be persistent at being consistent. Be Uncommon. Two fingers.