NFL Looking to Become a Kinder Gentler NFL (without becoming a touch league--hopefully)

At one time the NFL was for men; not just men, but manly men. They were the kind of guys that cut of fingers and bandaged up the stub so they could get back in the game. They were tough, hard-nosed, never-say-die kind of guys.

Now we have a league that still has plenty off tough guys, but if they talk to tough or hit too hard they stand the risk of being fined. Yes, sometimes the hits are dirty and merit discipline, but by and large the fines are ridiculous.

Our beloved NFL is becoming a kinder, gentler NFL, and if commissioner Roger Goodell has his way it is going to become even nicer.

The NFL is looking into how to make the process of cutting a player less traumatic; either that or they want to come up with a protocol of sorts to help guys through one of the worst moments of their lives.

"We look at our players from a total wellness standpoint," Goodell said. "It's not just a physical wellness, it's a mental wellness. And what can we do to try and make sure that we're helping our players make the transitions through life and to make sure they're getting the kind of help they need at any point."

This kind of talk likely stems from the countless stories you hear about guys having trouble when it comes to adjusting to life after football. In recent years there have been too many stories about guys falling into depressions, struggling with injuries, and the sudden absence from the spotlight.

However, I can't recall ever hearing about someone doing something stupid or hurting themselves after getting cut. Yes, it sucks, and guys shouldn't be happy about it. For young ones it's the end of the dream with the promised land of the NFL just inches out of reach.

After working towards it for essentially their entire lives its a pretty rough moment. So in that respect I get it, and since the NFL has the kind of money to sink into a program like that, why not?

At the same time is the NFL going to be doing them any good by trying to shelter them from the reality of life in a grown-up world? It's not like coaches draw names from hat, make cuts in front of the team, or make a joke out of it.

"...How do we make the process more dignified? It is in some cases the last experience a player has with a team or any team in the NFL. So we have to do a better job of doing that in a humane way and a way that will make sure they understand the respect we have for them and the pride we have in what they accomplished."

Dignified? Humane? These guys are getting fired not put down.

When it comes down to it these guys are just getting fired from a job. People get fired all the time. Could some bosses do a better job of it? Probably. In the end though it is something that adults just have to deal with.

Last I checked that is exactly what the NFL is made up of--adults.

[NFL.com]