Jury's still out on Goodell's effects on NFL behavior

It was over a year ago that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell strengthened the league's personal conduct policy by lengthening suspensions, increasing fines and holding teams accountable for the bad acts committed by their players.

"It is important that the NFL be represented consistently by outstanding people as well as great football players, coaches, and staff," Goodell said at the time. "We hold ourselves to higher standards of responsible conduct because of what it means to be part of the National Football League.

The Dallas Cowboys took a shot on Pacman Jones despite Goodell's policy. (Getty Images)

"We have long had policies and programs designed to encourage responsible behavior, and this policy is a further step in ensuring that everyone who is part of the NFL meets that standard. We will continue to review the policy and modify it as warranted."

Goodell's actions were met with praise from the media and others.

"I understand what they're doing," since-retired Oakland defensive lineman Warren Sapp said to USA Today. "Some of these new-jack kids act like they're walking on water. Sometimes, they need to be slapped in the face to wake up."

"I hope this sends a message to people in our league for how to conduct themselves," New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the paper. "We have to be careful. People in America can't relate to overindulged athletes not acting responsibly."

So, now, a year or so later after Goodell's announcement, the question is: Has Goodell's new policy worked?

The answer, in my opinion, so far at least, is probably not.

"Right now, it's pretty much business as usual in pro football," said an NFL agent, who requested anonymity. "Players are still getting into trouble and many teams still don't care if the player they sign or draft has a criminal background."

In some ways, Goodell has been true to his word of promising to be tough on NFL thugs. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on April 19 that in the past year there have been 62 arrests or citations, down nearly 20 percent from the 76 that occurred in the previous 12 months.

That's the good news. The bad news as the newspaper also reported is that through the first three months of 2008, there were 20 NFL players arrested or cited for various crimes which projects to 80 for the calendar year.

If that happened -- and it might because of an incredibly busy April for NFL hooligans -- then despite Goodell's tough talk and strengthened policies, there still could be high numbers of players arrested this year.

Indeed, these past several months was one of the worst stretches for arrests and various levels of pepper-sprayed turd-dom and Paul Crewe wanna-be's than I can remember in recent years.