The National Football League is arguably the most popular sports league in the United States and the most popular football league in the world. Here dreams and hopes rage, emotions boil, and where simmering emotions collide with public attention, the biggest scandals occur. Centreforum.org offers a look back at seven such events in NFL history.
The Simpson case
It has been called the case of the century and the first true reality show. O. J. Simpson (legendary running back, NFL Hall of Famer in 1985) was on trial for the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. He was caught after a famous two-hour silent chase after a white Ford Bronco (which was also broadcast on TV).
After a nine-month trial on October 3, 1995, a jury found Simpson not guilty of first-degree murder, despite overwhelming evidence against him. The moment when the acquittal was announced became one of the most significant moments on television.
However, a few years later, Simpson served 10 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping in Nevada and was released in 2018.
Vick’s dogfighting
The star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, selected at number one in the 2001 draft, made the Pro Bowl three times in six years and led the team to the playoffs twice. Three years after signing a nine-year, $130 million deal, he was accused of running an underground dogfight at his country home in April 2007. A search of the player’s home revealed 53 dogs with traces of injuries and another 12 dead animals.
After his release, Vick managed to return to the NFL and sign a four-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for $100 million, but the player never returned to his previous level.
Deflategate
The end justifies the means, especially if the goal is to win the world’s top football league. At least, that’s what the New England Patriots believe.
In the 2014 conference finals, New England hosted Indianapolis. That meeting ended in an easy 45-7 victory, which was not so clear-cut. The NFL conducted an investigation, which revealed that the Patriots’ balls had been deflated. This was used to make the ball easier to catch, especially in rain and cold conditions.
The punishment was brutal. New England were fined $1 million, stripped of their choice in the first round of the 2016 draft and their choice in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. Also, Tom Brady, who was accused of knowing about the deception and not cooperating with the investigation, was disqualified for 4 matches of the 2015 season.
Spygate
There is an opinion that had it not been for Spygate, the league would not have been so attentive to the Patriots and perhaps there would not have been a Deflategate. On September 10, 2007, the New York Jets, who had lost to the Patriots the day before, accused opposing coach Bill Belichick of having his assistants secretly videotape the actions and signals of their defensive and offensive coordinators. Three days later, Roger Goodell announced the punishment. New England were fined $250,000, Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, and the team lost its first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2008 draft.
The whole scandalousness of the situation lies in the fact that this was far from the only match in which the Patriots spied on rivals, and this practice probably began in 2000, which casts a shadow on the championships won since then. And you can bet on who will become the champion in the new NFL season at one of the bookmakers presented on Meta.reviews.
Hernandez’s Tragedy
Another New England-related story. Aaron Hernandez made a killing pairing with Rob Gronkowski, he was predicted to have a big future in 2011, but in June 2013 he was arrested on suspicion of murder, and in May 2014 he was also charged with a double homicide in Boston.
He was acquitted on the double homicide, but Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Odin Lloyd. And after a Boston talk show revealed that Aaron had sexual relations with men before and after prison, the former soccer player hanged himself two days later, on April 19, 2017.
Bountygate
During the 2009 playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals, the then-champion New Orleans Saints hunted down rival quarterbacks. The League investigated, and in March 2012 it was announced that Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams was organizing “awards” for players who would be better at crippling opponents than others. For an opponent who could not get to his feet, they paid $1000, and if he lost consciousness – $1500. Such a system existed in the team from 2009 to 2011, and it was attended by 22 to 27 players.
As a result of the investigation, Roger Goodell suspended Gregg Williams indefinitely (later reduced to a year), head coach Sean Payton for one year, general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games, and the club was fined $500,000 and denied a second-round draft pick in the 2012 and 2013 drafts.
Hornung and Karras bets
The oldest scandal on our list stemmed from a betting taboo violation by two early 1960s Pro Bowl regulars, Green Bay running back Paul Hornung and Detroit lineman Alex Karras. The players admitted to betting on football and the league disqualified them for the entire 1963 season. However, that didn’t stop both of them from continuing successful careers. Karras was named to the 1960s NFL All-Star Team and Hornung (who won 4 NFL titles, including the first-ever Super Bowl) was also inducted into the league’s Hall of Fame in 1986.
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