This NFL Handgun Problem Is Simple to Goodell

While addressing the media prior to last night’s Bucs-Panthers game, here’s what Roger Goodell had to say about NFL players carrying guns:↵↵⇥“The real issue to me, is when the players feel they’re unsafe, they shouldn’t be there,” Goodell said. “So get out, don’t be there. If you feel the need to have a firearm to be someplace, you’re in the wrong place.” ↵↵Well, that seems simple enough, and certainly makes perfect sense to The Commish. And the first part of that makes sense to me, too: If you don’t feel safe, then leave. I’m sure that comes naturally to every human, however, and really isn’t the issue here. ↵↵The problem is that most NFL players probably don’t feel completely safe ... ever. When one of their own -- Sean Taylor -- is shot and killed in his own home, which should be an athlete’s only real safe haven, it’s going to rattle their sense of security. Or, for a more specific example, when Plaxico Burress’ teammate Steve Smith is robbed at gunpoint by his own driver, it’s going to drive Plax’s desire to feel as protected as possible. As we’ve covered here before, carrying an illegal handgun himself wasn’t the answer, it’s actually ridiculously stupid, but why he felt the need to do so is somewhat understandable. In fact, it really wouldn’t be a surprise if many players feel that they need a firearm not only in “someplace,” but everyplace. This is why, according to ex-players, the overwhelming majority of NFL players own guns.↵

↵↵Of course, all of this is too messy for Goodell, who prefers to sum up complicated matters in tidy, non-specific soundbytes ... and four-game suspensions. ↵

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