Extra Points: All roads lead back to Park Avenue

Sep 17, 2014 - 8:51 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - If absolute power really does corrupt absolutely, that's your explanation as to why the NFL finds itself in the middle of a media firestorm.

On one hand, it's certainly not Roger Goodell's fault that the public at large has decided Adrian Peterson is a terrible father, and it's hardly the responsibility of the omnipotent commissioner to explain to Ray Rice or Greg Hardy that abusing a significant other is out of bounds.

The bunkered-in Goodell, however, is unequivocally culpable for the lack of leadership running rampant throughout his league.

Whether it's Zygi Wilf's shameful ping-ponging in the Peterson case, Jerry Richardson's hypocritical crying fit on domestic violence in relation to Hardy, or Jim Harbaugh's confusing bipolar stance on Ray McDonald, all roads lead back to Park Avenue.

The NFL has fostered this haphazard atmosphere by picking and choosing where to get involved in regards to off-the-field incidents and that very lack of consistency over the years is what is fueling the current controversy.

Think about it.

If there was a well-structured process with logical, rational and perhaps most importantly, dependable outcomes, the criticism may have not dried up completely but it would certainly lack teeth.

After all, as Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight blog revealed back in July, arrest rates among NFL players are actually quite low when compared to national averages for men in their age range.

Despite empirical evidence, though, "hiding behind due process" is a phrase that exploded on Twitter over the past few weeks, coined by many to describe the NFL's inaction in regards to certain high-profile incidents.

Due process, of course, is supposed to balance the law of the land with the protection of an individual's rights and is a core principle of our country's democracy, checks and balances that protect not only pariahs like Peterson, Rice and Hardy but also the average Joe.

And trust me, the minute anyone gets in trouble, it's a concept that becomes very important to them.

When you take emotion out of any situation and replace it with logic, most will realize that "due process" is one of the major reasons why this country is regarded by so many as the greatest in the world.

Built-in ideals to protect citizens in this country is a cornerstone of it and when you take a look at news emanating around the world from dozens of tyrannical governments, that due process marginalized by so many while on a soapbox is a nice little card to possess. And it shouldn't be taken lightly no matter what social reform you might be stumping for.

When it comes to the NFL, however, hiding behind that due process is only a thing because of Goodell's erraticism and incongruity in previous personal- conduct incidents.

The toothpaste is obviously already out of the tube now, but there remains a rather simple solution to all of the NFL's current problems.

The first step is admitting the mistake and taking responsibility for all the inconsistencies of the past while explaining that moving forward, the NFL will respect due process in all legal instances no matter the emotion or public outcry.

Once the legal part of any issue has played out, a transparent personal- conduct policy with well-publicized penalties handed out in a steady fashion would stem any future judgments or harsh reviews.

It's also evident Roger Goodell no longer has the credibility to pull that kind of strategy off, but plenty of others do.

It's time for Goodell to practice what he has only preached for so many years -- protect the shield.

WEEK 3 (All Times Eastern)

Tampa Bay (0-2) at Atlanta (1-1) (-6 1/2), Thursday, 8:30 p.m. - It's gotten late early for Lovie Smith and the Buccaneers. Looking to avoid an 0-3 start, the Bucs head to the Georgia Dome on a short week against a QB in Matt Ryan, who is 37-10 as a starter at home, including a 5-1 mark against Tampa Bay with a 100.6 passer rating.

Falcons 31, Buccaneers 17

San Diego (1-1) at Buffalo (2-0) (-2 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Fresh off handling the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chargers make the difficult trip across country to take on the surprising 2-0 Bills and the dynamic C.J. Spiller, who returned a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown against Miami this past Sunday and became the first player in more than 40 years to record a 100-yard KR touchdown and 45-yard-or-more run in the same game.

Bills 21, Chargers 17

Baltimore (1-1) (-1 1/2) at Cleveland (1-1), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The old Browns visit the new Browns in the latest installment of what has been a one-sided rivalry with the Ravens holding a 22-8 all-time advantage. Joe Flacco, meanwhile, is 25-13 all-time against AFC North foes, a gaudy record fueled by his success against Cleveland (11-1 as a starter).

Ravens 23, Browns 16

Tennessee (1-1) at Cincinnati (2-0) (-7), Sunday, 1 p.m. - The Bengals will be shooting for their 11th consecutive regular-season home win against the underdog Titans and Jake Locker, who has won three of his past four road starts. Locker's counterpart, Andy Dalton, is now 32-18 as Cincinnati's starting QB, the highest winning percentage of any signal caller in Bengals history.

Bengals 34, Titans 17

Green Bay (1-1) at Detroit (1-1) (-1 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - One of football's oldest rivalries renews in the Motor City with the Lions trying to figure out a way to become competitive in the series again. Green Bay has won 15 of the last 17 between the two teams and Aaron Rodgers is 9-0 with 19 TDs and just four interceptions in Detroit.

Packers 31, Lions 28

Indianapolis (0-2) (-6 1/2) at Jacksonville (0-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Andrew Luck isn't used to losing two in a row and don't expect him to get comfy with three straight. The Colts' QB has won five of his past six starts on the road against AFC South foes and the Jags don't look all that competitive.

Colts 31, Jaguars 14

Oakland (0-2) at New England (1-1) (-14), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Let's see, you have the head coach with 200 wins in Bill Belichick and a QB with 149 in Tom Brady versus a rookie who has never won in the NFL (Derek Carr). Making the Raiders a two-TD underdog is being kind.

Patriots 34, Raiders 9

Minnesota (1-1) at New Orleans (0-2) (-9 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - A week from hell for the scandal-stained Vikings will seem like a picnic when they actually get to New Orleans against a desperate Saints team. Sean Payton's club has won eight in a row at the Superdome and Drew Brees has completed 76- of-107 passes for 846 yards with nine TDs and no picks in his last three starts against Minny.

Saints 41, Vikings 13

Houston (2-0) (-2) at New York Giants (0-2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - If Eli Manning likes to turn it over when J.J. Watt is out of town, imagine what will happen with the All-Pro in MetLife Stadium. Watt, football's best defensive player, has 8 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his past nine games against NFC competition. Expect the Texans to surpass their entire win total from last season in three weeks.

Texans 23, Giants 13

Washington (1-1) at Philadelphia (2-0) (-6 1/2), Sunday, 1 p.m. - DeSean Jackson returns to Philadelphia, the city where he amassed 356 receptions for 6,117 yards and scored 39 TDs in six seasons. Jackson, however, is dealing with an AC joint issue in his shoulder and will be working with backup Kirk Cousins after Robert Griffin III went down with a dislocated ankle on Sunday. The Eagles are 2-0, becoming the first team in NFL history to start that way after trailing by 14-or-more points in the second half of each game. Philadelphia has outscored its opposition 58-10 in the second half this season.

Eagles 33, Redskins 24

Dallas (1-1) (-1) at St. Louis (1-1), Sunday, 1 p.m. - Tony Romo will aim to continue his success against the Rams. The Cowboys' signal caller has never lost to St. Louis (3-0), and has thrown eight TD passes and just one interception with a 120.1 passer rating against the Rams.

Cowboys 21, Rams 13

San Francisco (1-1) (-3) at Arizona (2-0), Sunday, 4:05 p.m. - The 49ers will be trying to bounce back from a late-game implosion against Chicago in the Levi's Field opener, San Francisco has won four straight over the Cards and QB Colin Kaepernick is 3-0 with a 106.4 passer rating against Arizona, which may be without Carson Palmer again (nerve damage, shoulder).

49ers 24, Cardinals 21

Denver (2-0) at Seattle (1-1) (-5), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - For only the sixth time in history, the regular season will feature a rematch of the previous Super Bowl. The Broncos, who improved to 2-0 with a 24-17 win over Kansas City, will look to avenge last year's 43-8 loss in Super Bowl XLVIII, an unlikely scenario considering Seattle is 18-1 at home with Russell Wilson playing QB.

Seahawks 31, Broncos 21

Kansas City (0-2) at Miami (1-1) (-4 1/2), Sunday, 4:25 p.m. - With injuries to bell cows Knowshon Moreno and Jamaal Charles, this game could be about which QB makes the fewest amount of mistakes, and that would trend toward the Chiefs' Alex Smith, who has won nine of past 13 September starts.

Chiefs 17, Dolphins 16

Pittsburgh (1-1) at Carolina (2-0) (-3), Sunday 8:30 p.m. - The Greg Hardy issue hasn't affected the Panthers yet. With or without its star pass rusher, Carolina sports one of the best front sevens in all of football and has won eight straight regular-season home games. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is 2-0 in his career versus the Panthers and comes in 313 passing yards shy of 35,000 for his career.

Panthers 20, Steelers 9

Chicago (1-1) at New York Jets (1-1) (-2 1/2), Monday, 8:30 p.m. - In Week 2, both the Bears and Jets were involved in dramatic comebacks. Chicago erased a 17-0 deficit to defeat the 49ers, 28-20. New York, however, watched the Packers come back from a 21-3 hole as the Jets dropped a 31-24 decision at Lambeau Field. The Bears go as QB Jay Cutler goes. He threw four TDs and had a 119.2 passer rating on Sunday and his teams are 29-3 when he crosses the 100.0 barrier.

Bears 28, Jets 23