NFL reviewing more ways to stop drunken driving

By Charean Williams

cjwilliams@star-telegram.com

NEW ORLEANS -- The NFL will implement more programs to try to deter drinking and driving by its players in the wake of two Dallas Cowboys' recent arrests for DWI.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Friday in his annual state of the league address that drinking and driving is unacceptable, but the league's response to the problem has to be more than words.

"I think we have to go beyond telling players or telling executives," Goodell said. "The reality is we have to do a better job of educating people in the NFL that this is a priority. This is for your safety, for the safety of the people in your car, and for innocent people that are out there. There are services designed to help them make better decisions before they leave their homes. We have to make sure that they understand those services, and most importantly, take advantage of them, use them."

Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff was arrested Jan. 22 on a driving while intoxicated charge after hitting an 18-wheeler and a highway median with his car. His arrest came only 44 days after Ratliff's backup, Josh Brent, was arrested and charged with intoxicated manslaughter as the driver in a wreck that killed his passenger, practice squad linebacker Jerry Brown.

Debbie Weir, the chief executive officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, whose national office is in Irving, was in the audience for Goodell's 48-minute address. She met with Goodell during the December owners meetings in Irving and again last week.

The Cowboys are expected to meet with MADD, too, to determine additional steps they can take.

"We're going to engage in a number of programs to help educate all of our clubs -- players, coaches, executives -- on what we can do," Goodell said. "Victim-impact programs have been very effectively used with several clubs over the past several months. We're going to do that, because this is a high priority, not only for the sake of safety, but it's part of our responsibility in the communities that we live."

Other issues the commissioner discussed:

Making the game safer is the league's goal. The NFL intends to continue to pursue suspensions as discipline for players with a history of illegal hits, which Goodell believes serve as a deterrent. Neurosurgeons will be on the sidelines during games and postseason physicals will be expanded to three days. The league's competition committee will review low blocks, though taking "the head out of the game" is the "No. 1 issue." "There is no question that there is a focus to try to get back to the fundamentals of tackling," Goodell said.

Testing for human growth hormone could happen as soon as the start of the 2013 season. The league and the union agreed to testing two years ago in the new collective bargaining agreement.

The NFL will review the Rooney Rule in the off-season after no minorities were hired for the eight head coaching and seven general manager positions this off-season.

The league hopes to return to Mexico -- it last played a game there in 2005 -- but Goodell said there is no timetable to return. The league will host two games in London this year, both of which are sold out.

Charean Williams

817-390-7760

Twitter: @NFLCharean

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