Jay Feely discusses harassment standards in the NFL

Last year, the NFL was rocked by the Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin bullying scandal down in Miami. The scandal highlighted the issues with the NFL’s locker room culture, and uncovered the need for sweeping changes.

More from Arizona Cardinals

The NFL and the NFLPA are dedicated to making the NFL a suitable work environment free of harassment, and they are working towards their goal every day.

While much of the focus has been on stopping harassment between players, NFLPA Executive Committee member and Cardinals kicker Jay Feely believes the focus should be more comprehensive (Courtesy of Pro Football Talk):

"Coaches must be held to the same standards as players. The most verbally abusive language always comes from the coaches. Whether it’s the locker room, the classroom, on the field, or with the referees coaches are always the most verbally abusive.I was unequivocal with Roger [Goodell] when we met that it must be a uniform policy. If you don’t hold coaches to the same standards, then it’s nothing more than a P.R. campaign."

What Feely is saying will resonate through anyone who has played competitive football before. The archetypal coach is seen on the sidelines berating his players for making a gaffe. In history, many of the best NFL coaches of all time are known as the most fiery and unabashed among the league.

While not every successful coach in the history of the NFL has held this type of demeanor, many have. If the NFL has any hope to change the locker room culture and make the sport a more friendly environment, it needs to start with the coaches and dwindle down to the players.

Home/Arizona Cardinals