After more than a decade of virtual silence, Tom Nalen has found himself in the NFL equivalent of a windowless, single-bulb room, sitting on a metal-back chair at an old, wooden table.
Cigarette?
Actually, the NFL has its own methods in getting Nalen and his Broncos blocking buddies to talk. These methods have even been put into writing, in the form of the league's revised media policy.
"No more offensive linemen saying, 'We're not talking,' or 'We're going to appoint a spokesman for the week,"' said Greg Aiello, the NFL's public relations boss. "That will not be tolerated."
Not tolerated. Does that mean a substantial fine to those who continue to boycott the media?
"Yes," Aiello said. "Now, if an individual doesn't want to comment about a particular matter then we won't force them. But if there's some suggestion they are working together at not talking as a group, then we'll have an issue."
For Nalen, a center who has adhered to the Denver O-line's self-imposed policy of not commenting for attribution since 1995, this is no minor revision. Upon reporting to his 14th Broncos training camp Saturday, Nalen was not yet ready to concede his vow of silence.
"I'm going to look into my Fifth Amendment rights," Nalen said
Rest of the story. . .
What is that? You're going to fine an offensive line because they don't want to talk? Given how much abuse the media has laid upon players in the past, I for one can't blame any player or group of players that simply says "enough."
Goodell is trying to earn a reputation as a commissioner who "does things," and this policy shows the stupidity of following that to its logical conclusion. I can't agree more with this quote from one of the players:
"I have a lot of beef with the direction the NFL is going now," Zimmerman said. "It's become too much of an entertainment product instead of just a sport. I mean, if someone doesn't want to talk, who cares?"