NFL Takes Stand on Ethics, Gives Them Boot

NEW ORLEANS — Michael Josephson had what he thought was a pretty good idea. Disgusted with the decline of ethics and the lack of sufficient role models in sports, Josephson, a former lawyer from Marina del Rey, formed the Character Counts Coalition, lined up some 100 athletes to sign a declaration of character in sports

and planned a Wednesday news conference at Super Bowl headquarters to promote it.

But NFL officials didn’t think it was such a good idea. Not the cause, they say, just the idea of promoting it on Super Bowl week at the league’s hotel headquarters.

Josephson was so informed Monday morning by Greg Aiello, the NFL’s director of communications. Because the league controls all activities at the hotel, Josephson had to move his event to a nearby hotel, where it will receive far less notice.

“Instead of just whining and wailing and saying isn’t that terrible,” Josephson said, referring to the state of sports today, “here are some athletes saying, ‘This is what can be done.’ Enough is enough.

“But I don’t think the league is willing to make a statement that athletes have the responsibility to be role models, both on and off the field. We are calling for higher standards from coaches and sponsors. I think the business organization [within the NFL] doesn’t see any advantage in that.”

Aiello sees it a different way.

“The Super Bowl is something that is planned out months and years in advance,” he said. “By policy, we do not permit an outside group to hold non-Super Bowl related press conferences. Every year, we have people with good causes who want to take advantage of the Super Bowl platform to advance their issues. We have said no to many other organizations. In all fairness, we must say no to this group. We want to keep the focus on the game and the players to the extent that we can.

“Besides, we don’t know anything about Michael Josephson.”

Josephson says that his organization first contacted the NFL several weeks ago and, as late as last Friday, was still being told that league officials were considering his request for a news conference.

Aiello says Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has not had time to read the document in the midst of his busiest week of the year.

Once Tagliabue reads it, might he yet endorse a document advocating more ethical behavior in every area of sport?

“Who is going to disagree with that?” Aiello said. “That’s mom and apple pie. We all support it.”

Josephson isn’t convinced.

“It’s not just mom and apple pie,” he said. “These are very specific proposals. It takes five minutes to read it. It’s convenient to say he did not have the time, but not very believable.”