The National Football League (NFL) is America’s pride and joy; Sunday nights, chicken wings, beer, and football – tradition that, seemingly, no one could question.
Fans however, know the league has been called into question, and loudly, several times over the years for it’s controversial scandals overtaking the sport of football for the headline spot. We take a look at the top ten most controversial scandals in NFL history to date.
10. Brett Favre and “sexting” (2008)
Brett Favre has a couple of things to take away from his time as a New York Jet – one, his not-so-hot play on the field, throwing for 3,472 yards and 22 interceptions in 2008, and two, the sexting scandal with Jets’ sideline reporter, Jenn Sterger. In 2010, pictures of the star quarterback’s genitalia surfaced after he had sent them to Sterger. The NFL felt it had no grounds to discipline Favre.
9. “Spygate” (2007)
You either love the New England Patriots, or you hate them, partially for incidents such as the coined “Spygate” that saw the organization fined $250,000 and head coach Bill Belichick $500,000 individually for the videotaping of St. Louis’ practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI. The reporting of the incident was released one day prior to New England’s 17-14 Super Bowl XLII loss. The NFL also took away the Patriots’ first-round pick in 2008.
8. Ben Roethlisberger sexual assault charges (2009-2010)
Despite never being convicted of the two sexual assault charges, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s name and reputation were still largely tainted because of them. In 2009, a Nevada hotel employee accused no. 7 of sexual assault, and later in 2010, a 20-year-old college student told police the same. The NFL suspended the two-time Super Bowl Champion for six games, later reducing it to four.
7. Vikings’ “Love Boat” (2005)
17 members of the Minnesota Vikings rented out two houseboats and flew in prostitutes in what may be the weirdest scandal in sports. Pictures on the Internet of players performing sexual acts in front of 90 people resulted in criminal charges as Daunte Culpepper, Bryant McKinnie, Fred Smoot, and Moe Williams were charged with indecent conduct. In 2006, Smoot and McKinnie were each fined. No suspensions were given out.
6. “Bountygate” (2012)
New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams were both suspended for one season (2012) without pay, and general manager Mickey Loomis for the first eight games for the “bounty program” – a program that had players paid large amounts for injuring the opposition’s stars. Additionally, the Saints were fined $500,000 and had their second-round pick for 2012 and 2013 revoked.
5. Eugene Robinson solicits oral sex (1999)
Atlanta Falcons’ Robinson was charged the night before Super Bowl XXXIII for soliciting oral sex from an undercover police officer. The free safety went on to play in the game and was largely noticed for mistakes made that contributed to the Denver Broncos Super Bowl win.
4. Rae Carruth and the murder arrangement (2000-01)
Formerly a first-round draft pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, Carruth didn’t get the chance to flex his muscles past a three-year career. The former Carolina Panthers wide receiver is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of his girlfriend, Cherica Adams, in a drive-by shooting. Adams was carrying Carruth’s unborn child at the time.
3. Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring (2007-08)
The Atlanta Falcons quarterback took himself and the organization on a downward spiral after pleading guilty to the federal felony of a dog fighting charge. It was reported 53 pitbulls from Vick’s property showed signs of injury, in addition to 12 dead pitbull terriers. In 2008, Vick filed for bankruptcy with an estimated $20 million owed to creditors.
2. Ray Rice and the “Elevator Knockout” (2014)
Rice’s assault on his now-wife, Janay Rice, may be one of the most complex scandals to date. Originally suspended for two games in July, TMZ released the video titled “Elevator Knockout” that sent the public into frenzy, causing the NFL to be severely criticized and questioned, with commissioner Roger Goodell as the current most wanted. Rice was released from the Ravens and indefinitely suspended from the NFL on Sept. 8.
1. O.J. Simpson Murder Trial
As one of the most talked about scandals ever, there aren’t too many people who don’t know about the murder glove, the white Bronco, or the piles of evidence that suggested Simpson murdered his wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Lyle Goldman. Despite it all, somehow, the Hall of Fame running back walked away a free man.