So Does This Mean No More Beer Ads on TV?

This is ridiculous:

NEW YORK (AP) -- NFL clubs may no longer serve alcohol at team functions or on buses or flights, extending a ban that until now applied only in locker rooms.

As if Al Davis needed another reason to sue the league.

NFL owners and executives were told Thursday by commissioner Roger Goodell that the rule pertains not only to players but to owners, coaches and guests.

Please partake mightily of the official beer of Super Bowl because those ads pretty much pay my salary, just don't do it in a totally irresponsible manner such as an official team function surrounded by other mature adults, all of whom should be capable of making their own decisions.    

"I believe that no constructive purpose is served by clubs continuing to make alcoholic beverages available, and that doing so imposes significant and unnecessary risks to the league, its players and others," Goodell wrote to all 32 teams in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

Since when did Roger Napoleon Goodell become emperor of all he surveyed?  So I guess this means the NFL will take the next logical, safety-first step and ban beer sales in the stands at its games?  Because I guarandamntee you that you're at more risk sitting amongst / driving home next to a massive crowd of beer-swilling fans than you would be sipping champagne in Jeff Lurie's office.

The commissioner's letter separates him from, among others, baseball commissioner Bud Selig. After St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died a month ago in what was ruled an alcohol-related auto accident, Selig said a decision on banning beer in clubhouses was a team matter, not a league one.

Holy crap.  I've lived to see Bud Selig arise as the voice of reason.

Goodell's letter is in keeping with his policy of setting strict standards for behavior by players, coaches and officials after a year of numerous arrests, many of them for alcohol-related offenses. He has imposed strict suspensions on those who violated those policies, including a yearlong suspension for Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones, which is currently under appeal.

Because banning booze in the boardroom is definitely going to cut down on all that late-night carousing, strip club visiting and naked boating.

The letter is addressed to chief executives, club presidents, general managers and head coaches.

Joe Banner is already trying to figure out how he can exploit the new rule to shave a few bucks in cap charges.

"Effective immediately," it reads, "clubs are prohibited from providing alcoholic beverages, including beer, in any club setting, including in locker rooms, practice or office facilities, or while traveling, including on team buses or flights.

"Including beer." 

"This prohibition extends not only to players, but to all team personnel, as well as to other guests traveling with the team or who have access to club facilities."

Yes, Roger Goodell is now also the boss of you.  Deal with it.

The ban was sent with the approval of the NFL Players Association and the player advisory council, a group of veterans appointed in early April to advise Goodell on player issues.

Really?  Guys are getting busted left and right, the commissioner's getting ready to hand down mandatory one-game suspensions for jaywalking, Mike Vick is the mastermind behind an underground dog-fighting syndicate, and half of all ex-players can't remember their own addresses and yet this was their number one priority?

That group includes union president Troy Vincent, currently a free agent; safety Donovin Darius of Jacksonville; fullback Tony Richardson of Minnesota; center Jeff Saturday of Indianapolis; linebacker Takeo Spikes of Philadelphia; and wide receiver James Thrash of Washington.

Philly / Ex-Philly is totally dominating that committee.  I can't wait until the first time TiVo catches a beer can in the background of a post-game interview done somewhere within the bowels of a stadium.  Bet that will be a $50,000 fine.

Comments

[BleedingGreenNation]

If we win the superbowl, the team can spray apple juice around the locker room!

As long as it hasn't sat out too long that is!