Culture change. It's been a dominant phrase for the NFL over the past few conflict-ridden, crisis-scarred years. The phrase that might replace it — and, in fact, bring about that change — is "early intervention.''
That's the name of a program proposed by former Pro Bowl safety Troy Vincent, the league's senior vice president for player engagement. In short, it's a way to get a handle on problems before they surface. It's a way to prevent another Aaron Hernandez, Richie Incognito, Jovan Belcher, Josh Brent or Junior Seau episode.
The idea puts the NFL out further on a limb than it's ever been. At its core, it's trying to solve problems that date back to players' college, high school, youth leagues, even childhoods — problems the NFL inherits, either unwittingly or in full knowledge.
"It's high risk or high reward, but that's the game we're in. Much has been given, and much is required,'' Vincent said this week in Baltimore, where he led an offseason business boot-camp seminar attended by two dozen current and former players.
"We just believe that we can assist (players) in doing better, for a lifetime of success, because we know and understand that it's just a small window for them to be here. Maybe we can be that organization that can touch on an issue that has never been touched.
"We're OK with that. We'll take that risk.''
The reward, though, is that the NFL will have fewer troubling questions to answer about tragedies that not only damage lives, but the league's reputation. Headline-making player embarrassments make the NFL look like an outlaw organization willing to look the other way on every indiscretion, before it brings players in and afterward.
That, Vincent said, means shifting the entire tone of the conversation.
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