Facing controversy on how he disciplines his employees, Roger Goodell met with the college football disciplinarian who has dismissed nine players for rules violations.
According to the Associated Press, Goodell, the NFL's commissioner, and his executive vice president Troy Vincent met with Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong Sunday. Upon taking over for longtime coach Mack Brown, Strong installed his five "Core Values," a set of rules he strictly enforces with a three-strike policy.
Goodell is facing harsh scrutiny for admitting to wrongfully suspending former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice just two games after he punched and knocked out his then-fiancé. Making matters worse are allegations that his office knew about a video from inside the elevator showing Rice throw the punch when he handed out the initial punishment.
On the other hand, Strong has dismissed nine football players in eight months, upholding his Core Values. Per NBC Sports, they are: honesty, treating women with respect, no drugs, no stealing and no guns.
"We discussed setting standards, and taking a stand on who we are as football leaders," Vincent told the AP. "Charlie Strong is doing that. It is a difficult process changing culture, not for the light-hearted. But, as we know at the NFL, it is a process that must be endured with the goals of high standards, excellence and accountability."
The NFL has seen many of its players in past years make headlines for acts of violence, but this year has been especially tumultuous. In addition to the Rice situation, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is under investigation for beating his son with a tree branch.
While Goodell can take notes from Strong's discipline practices, the NFL can also benefit from more coaches taking similar stances.
"Coach Strong is setting a precedent on leadership by not compromising on high standards and the value of football," Vincent said. "He provided us valuable insight on how he establishes standards, gets buy-in from his student athletes and holds them accountable.
"Coach Strong has taken a firm stance on violence against women and stressing core values as a prerequisite to playing on his team. He believes that winning starts with life principles and is building his program based on core values. We believe this is a model that should be emulated across the country in both amateur and professional football."