The NFL’s investigation into Mike Evans’ autograph imbroglio got here to a screeching halt with a press launch that gave off “forget it, it’s Chinatown” vibes. One day into the league’s inquiry, into Evans’ notorious scribble for sport officers Tripp Sutter and Jeff Lamberth following the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss Sunday to the Carolina Panthers, it was buried simply as shortly. The NFL introduced that no misconduct occurred in a launch, however refused to elaborate. It was telling that moderately than absolutely exonerate their officers and Evans, the league initially opted to permit the story to linger on the market whereas they obfuscated. It wasn’t till the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissaro crammed within the lacking particulars that most of the people realized the official story.
Reportedly, Evans gave his quantity to Lamberth, a fellow Texas A&M alum, to cross alongside to a golf professional for the vast receiver to get classes from. However, Lamberth was lacking a sheet of paper to jot it down on and borrowed one from Sutter, Pelissero famous. Well, that settles it. Nothing to see right here, people.
The collective bargaining settlement between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association prohibits the NFL’s officers from asking “players, coaches or any other teams personnel for autographs or memorabilia.” Oddly, it doesn’t seem to have any qualms with the change of digits between an athlete and a ref. How does anybody within the league workplace not see an issue with this?
The league hand-waved apart the allegations away in underneath 48 hours. Typically taking the NFL by its phrase is a treacherous endeavor. Even my wave caps are even lined in tin foil, but when the NFL’s PR crew cobbled collectively a response that was worse than the unique accusations, then they’re even greater galaxy brains than we ever knew.
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If Evans shanked a drive in Florida he’d have a golf professional providing him classes inside 60 seconds. He can deal with that on his personal with out assistance from officers. What subsequent? Calling up the top of officiating for the place to discover a good accountant? Sharing ideas in regards to the new season of Ted Lasso through texts with whoever leads the NFL’s prompt replay command middle? If the NFL is ok with its officers working as messenger pigeons between NFL gamers and golf professionals, then there might be greater scandals on the horizon.
The league already has stringent tampering guidelines in place that regulate communications between gamers and personnel from different groups. Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million for tampering with Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and then-Saints coach Sean Payton. One of the allegations was that Miami’s vice chairman contacted Brady about becoming a member of the group whereas the QB was underneath contract with the Bucs. How laborious wouldn’t it be to increase that to officers?
This chill ¯_(ツ)_/¯ perspective has not often been the NFL’s stance on these kinds of interactions and it’s unusual that they’re brushing this to the aspect. They have guidelines dictating virtually each movement gamers make on sport days. The NFL cares extra in regards to the look of improprieties being on video moderately than the precise malfeasance. That has been their stance on home violence and the since-destroyed Spygate tapes as effectively. Player misconduct will get a slap on the wrist until there are footage or movies capturing these transgressions.
Evans and Sutter’s change may have been an trustworthy one, but when gamers and officers fraternizing on this manner don’t get slapped down, it would turn out to be extra commonplace, proliferate, and create situations for the abuse of these relationships.