NFL: Monitoring Gang Signs

According to Yahoo! Sports, the National Football League is intensifying their efforts in regards to monitoring players using gang signs. Unfortunately many people believe that this type of negativity was a long time coming.

I have spoken to several sports enthusiasts about the risk of signing young athletes to large amounts of money and how it can affect these men, women and teenagers who have never before been put into these types of situations. We all dream of being comfortably wealthy, but the risks and responsibilities far outweigh the pure enjoyment of receiving large sums of money and a new city to call home.

Personally, I do not think this issue is race related in any way shape or form. I've read many articles blaming these football players for being raised in "suburbs" and "ghettos". Rags to riches if you will? Unlike many other blogs and responses, I think this issue of bringing the streets to the game of football is something that gives our youth to focus on and a goal to work for in a sports career. The majorities of athletes never see a professional contract, but rather work hard for a degree and savor the memories of playing football, basketball, hockey and baseball while they still had the strength and energy. For readers who think this problem exists only in low income communities, you are dead wrong!

If the NFL is serious about monitoring their players in regards to them throwing up gang signs amidst a Monday Night Football game, then we all must admit that the process of recruiting is missing the mark. Character players are few and far in-between and many professional teams are looking at only one goal; winning the Super Bowl. While this dream is a reality for many, has the NFL forgotten about portraying a positive image? My answer is yes....simply because this type of problem should not exist in the first place. I want to see talented men playing the game with passion and energy, not claiming their territory or street clicks that they belong to. No matter the ethnicity, players that are using gang signs while wearing a professional uniform should not be allowed back onto the field.

Many acts have been exposed that have involved professional football players including death, serious injury and verbal confrontations while off the field. The National Football League has done the right thing about identifying a problem, but "monitoring" the problem is not the answer. The league needs to prevent this type of situation in the first place. Players that have violent backgrounds simply should not be accepted into the league. Period. Let's just hope that future football stars can relax and worry about the opposition, instead of the opposition and confrontations after a game due to gang relations.