johnnymk

http://www.mcall.com/sports/sns-ap-f...ail_newsletter

NEW YORK -- NFL clubs may no longer serve alcohol at team functions or on buses or flights, extending a ban that until now applied only in locker rooms.

NFL owners and executives were told Thursday by commissioner Roger Goodell that the rule pertains not only to players but to owners, coaches and guests.

"I believe that no constructive purpose is served by clubs continuing to make alcoholic beverages available, and that doing so imposes significant and unnecessary risks to the league, its players and others," Goodell wrote to all 32 teams in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

The commissioner's letter separates him from, among others, baseball commissioner Bud Selig. After St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died a month ago in what was ruled an alcohol-related auto accident, Selig said a decision on banning beer in clubhouses was a team matter, not a league one.

Goodell's letter is in keeping with his policy of setting strict standards for behavior by players, coaches and officials after a year of numerous arrests, many of them for alcohol-related offenses. He has imposed strict suspensions on those who violated those policies, including a yearlong suspension for Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones, which is currently under appeal.

The letter is addressed to chief executives, club presidents, general managers and head coaches.

"Effective immediately," it reads, "clubs are prohibited from providing alcoholic beverages, including beer, in any club setting, including in locker rooms, practice or office facilities, or while traveling, including on team buses or flights.

"This prohibition extends not only to players, but to all team personnel, as well as to other guests traveling with the team or who have access to club facilities."

The ban was sent with the approval of the NFL Players Association and the player advisory council, a group of veterans appointed in early April to advise Goodell on player issues.

That group includes union president Troy Vincent, currently a free agent; safety Donovin Darius of Jacksonville; fullback Tony Richardson of Minnesota; center Jeff Saturday of Indianapolis; linebacker Takeo Spikes of Philadelphia; and wide receiver James Thrash of Washington.

cheapie

none on flights? that could get challenged. i don't think it's fair that i can drink on the way back from a game but the players can't!

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VTGreg

These are all charter flights so the jurisdication may hold. I would say it is an unnecessary step but NFL players have shown a propensity for making poor designs on a regular basis.

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Markel

So, what are the players going to be spraying and pouring over each other when their team wins the championships? Perrier?

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RIVERWIDOW

Sparkling apple cider !

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bachviet

Gatorade

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Jeffbx

I think it's a good idea - after all, these guys are all at work. Who else gets to drink at work?

cheapie

if i'm on the way to and from visits, at a company dinner, out with customers, etc. i sure can. and the company pays.

zippyjuan

As long as you and they are not driving themselves home from the airport or functions. I used to work for a company that retailed wine and we used to get to go to these fabulous wine tastings and fancy wine dinners. But now they don't allow them over concerns about people going home drunk.

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Jeffbx

Well, OK, bad example - I guess I can think of numerous times I drank on the company's dime.

But when it leads to things like the Viking's party boat fiasco, maybe it's time to scale it back a little.

DarkFury

Technically, that wasn't a "team function"....

That was a private party thrown by a few of the Vikings team members not sponsored by the team's management.

I'm sure that they can still drink in their own "private time"... just not on "NFL Corporate time" (i.e. at practices, games, traveling to games, and other official team sponsored events.)

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gwilks98

I absolutely can't stand rules based on "a few bad apples" philosophy. Get rid of the bad apples and make an example of them....wait, there's too much money at stake for anyone to do the right thing.

I wonder if they're allowed to drink champagne in the locker room after Superbowl?

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Napoleon54

Unfortunately that's the stimulus for a LOT of rules and laws these days.

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