In February, ESPN cancelled the controversial show “Playmakers.”
In case you missed it, the show revolved around the players of a fictional professional football team, the Cougars, and focused on problems such as drug addiction, infidelity, and violence.
Now plenty of shows get sacked between seasons, but the cancellation of “Playmakers” resulted less from ratings and critical acclaim than the strong reaction of ESPN’s other partner in the fall lineup, the NFL. Currently ESPN televises Sunday night games during the season, and its partner station ABC airs “Monday Night Football.”
In an ESPN story, the network’s vice president, Mark Shapiro admitted that the NFL’s thoughts on the series were a major factor in the decision to cancel the series. Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who controls both ESPN and ABC, also received a phone call from NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who was reportedly less than enthusiastic about the show and its plots.
Why bring all of this up? The NFL’s main problem with “Playmakers” seems to be that the show’s plots portray a false and negative image of professional football.
A quick look at some of the headlines from the league over the past couple of weeks reveals such “positive” stories such as former Cardinals tackle Luis Sharpe being arrested on cocaine charges and a judge’s ruling on a case involving the Vikings’ wide reciever Randy Moss and assault on a traffic-control officer.
And of course let’s not forget the big one that happened Feb. 26 when Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis was indicted on federal drug charges. Lewis, the 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in connection with a 2000 incident.
Of course, all of these charges pale in comparison to the 1999-2000 NFL schedule and offseason, which saw three players involved in shootings. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis (no relation to Jamal) was charged with murder after two men were found dead outside a nightclub following the 2000 Super Bowl, but was later cleared of the charges.
Earlier that season, former Panthers wide receiver Rae Carruth was arrested and later found guilty of conspiring to kill his girlfriend Cherica Adams. Former Carolina Panthers running back Fred Lane was added to the list of tragedies in July of 2000 when he was shot and killed by his wife in his home.
Does all of this sound familiar?
On the third episode of “Playmakers,” star running back DH lied to police regarding a shooting outside a nightclub.
DH also struggled with drug addiction throughout the show, dodging urine tests and bouncing in and out of rehab.
The point is that the NFL by insisting on the cancellation of the show is, in effect, sweeping all of these problems under the rug.
Denying and ignoring the problems of its players isn’t going to make them go away.
Of course, not all of the NFL’s players are involved in drug charges and murder investigations.
But some are.
And the next time a player picks up a gun or puts a pipe to their lips, the NFL won’t be able to just make a phone call and have the show cancelled.