National Football League controversies The National Football League ( NFL ) is a professional American football league , and is not without its share of controversies . Much of the recent controversies have been surrounding NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and player conduct , and the league ' s role in player safety . 1925 NFL Championship . The 1925 NFL Championship , officially held by the Chicago Cardinals , has been the subject of controversy since it was awarded . Under the league rules during that time , the NFL title was automatically given to the team with the best record at the end of the season instead of having the winner be determined by a playoff tournament . There was an open - ended schedule during that season ; although the final listed league games ended on December 6 , teams could still schedule contests against each other through December 20 to make more money . The Pottsville Maroons were one of the dominant teams of the 1925 season , and after defeating the Cardinals on December 6 , came away with the best record in the league . However , NFL commissioner Joseph Carr suspended and removed the Maroons from the NFL after they played an unauthorized exhibition game in Philadelphia , on the grounds that they had violated the territorial rights of the Frankford Yellow Jackets . The Cardinals played and won two more games against weak NFL opponents , giving them a superior record , and were awarded the title . Pottsville supporters argue that the suspension was illegitimate , and that the Maroons , who were reinstated the next year , would have had the superior record had they not been suspended . Others claim that Chicago were the legitimate champions based on the rules of the time . The NFL has investigated Pottsville ' s case on two occasions , both times upholding its decision that the Cardinals are the 1925 champions . Relocation controversies . Baltimore Colts move to Indianapolis . The Baltimore Colts were moved to Indianapolis by owner Robert Irsay in 1984 , after multiple years of lobbying to renovate or replace the decrepit Memorial Stadium , including talks of a " Baltodome " . In 1982 , the Hoosier Dome ( later called the RCA Dome ) was built in Indianapolis , increasing interest in a move by the Colts . Eventually , the Colts moved to Indianapolis by Mayflower Transit , who did so at night to confuse the Maryland State Police and fans . Cleveland Browns move to Baltimore . Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell decided to move the Browns to Baltimore , 12 years after the Colts moved away from the city . After backlash from the fans , the team and the NFL decided on a special compromise : Modell could relocate the Browns to Baltimore , but would play as an " expansion team " , and the Browns will go into a state of " suspended operations " . Modell ' s new team would eventually be named the Baltimore Ravens . In 1999 , a brand - new Browns expanded into the league . Similar agreements would eventually be used for the Seattle SuperSonics of the NBA in their relocation to Oklahoma City to become the Oklahoma City Thunder , along with the San Jose Earthquakes in their move to become the Houston Dynamo ( a new Earthquakes team eventually returned ) . Player conduct . In 2007 , Roger Goodell became commissioner , and instituted a player conduct policy to help control off - field behavior by players . Various amounts of criticism were aimed at Goodell , who was known for stripping teams of draft picks , as well as criticizing the punishments for Jones and Henry , despite Pacman Jones not being convicted . Minnesota Vikings " Love Boat " scandal . On Lake Minnetonka in 2005 , 17 Minnesota Vikings players ( Daunte Culpepper , Fred Smoot , Mewelde Moore , Pat Williams , Bryant McKinnie , Nate Burleson , Ralph Brown , Troy Williamson , Travis Taylor , Kevin Williams , Jermaine Wiggins , Lance Johnstone , Moe Williams , Ken Irvin and Willie Offord ) were accused of throwing a sex party on a boat , with most of the players partaking in sexual intercourse . Fred Smoot was allegedly the ringleader of the party , and allegedly pushed a double - headed dildo into the vagina s of two women who were lying on the floor in the lounge area . After one of them left the party , he continued to " manipulate the dildo " inside the other woman . Later , on October 19 , 2005 , Vikings owner Zygi Wilf , in a reportedly profanity - laced tirade , threatened to remove players from the roster who were involved in the planning of the party . Eventually , Culpepper , McKinnie , Smoot and Williams were charged with indecent , disorderly , and lascivious conduct . Michael Vick investigation . In 2006 , Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was involved in a dog fighting ring , and over seventy dogs , with most of them being pit bull terrier s , with some said to be showing signs of injuries , were seized , along with physical evidence during several searches of Vick ' s property by local , state and federal authorities . During the investigation , Vick was revealed to be working with 4 others ( Tony Taylor , Purnell Anthony Peace , Quanis Lavell Philips , and Oscar Allen ) . Eventually , they were convicted for " Conspiracy in interstate commerce / aid of unlawful animal cruelty venture " . On September 13 , Vick tested positive for marijuana , and was ordered by federal judge Henry E . Hudson to " submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance " , and before getting sent to prison , Vick was placed under house arrest . After spending time at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw , Virginia awaiting his trial , on December 10 , Vick was given 23 months in federal prison , followed by 3 years of probation . Vick was later placed in United States Penitentiary , Leavenworth until 2009 . Vick was later released by the Falcons , and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles . Banned substances . Players ' usage of steroids has been forbidden by the league since 1987 , with players testing positive for performance enhancing drugs being suspended without pay for four games for the first offense ( a quarter of the regular season ) , eight games for a second offense ( half of the regular season ) , and 12 months for a third offense . This policy has been praised by some and criticized by others . In 2006 , former San Diego Chargers player Shawne Merriman tested positive for steroids , and was given a 4 - game suspension . The incident later led to the " Merriman Rule " , forbidding players who tested positive for PEDs from participating in the Pro Bowl . Another popular drug in recent years amongst players has been the emergence of the amphetamine Adderall . Multiple players , particularly defensive backs , have been suspended for testing positive for the substance . Adderall heightens focus and attention and allows for quicker thought and reaction time , thus giving a player an unfair , performance enhanced ability . Coaching controversies . Spygate . In 2007 , despite the New England Patriots going 16 - 0 for the first time in league history , the team was still in the midst of a controversy surrounding head coach Bill Belichick . In the early part of the season , the Patriots were caught videotaping the hand signals of a New York Jets coach , and Belichick was fined a league - high $ 500 , 000 , and the Patriots were fined $ 250 , 000 . Additionally , the Patriots lost their first - round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft ( if they made the playoffs ) , or their second - and third - round picks ( if they missed the playoffs ) . In a widely criticized move , the league destroyed the tapes . However , Belichick was then revealed for having done so since he became head coach in 2000 . From an unknown source , the " Boston Herald " said that Belichick had done this practice with the St . Louis Rams practice before Super Bowl XXXVI , a fact that Belichick denied . Bounty Bowl . In 1989 , rivals Philadelphia and Dallas squared off in 2 games . Later , it was discovered that Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan had placed a bounty on Cowboys and former Eagles kicker Luis Zendejas . Concerns first came around when Ryan was the defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears , who allegedly pooled money into a bag , and if any of the Bears defensive players injures a player , he would get the bag . Suspicions started in the game when various fights happened between the 2 teams , with Zendejas going out of the game with a concussion from a hard tackle by linebacker Jessie Small after a kickoff . After the game , Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson alleged that Ryan had placed a bounty on 2 players : Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman , with injuring Aikman being worth possibly $ 500 . However , Ryan dismissed the claims as " high school Charlie stuff " . Zendejas later claimed that when he was with the Eagles , a player had once received at least $ 100 – 200 each for hits on a kicker and punter , which was the reason why Johnson made the accusation , In the teams ' second meeting , this time in Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia , the original game set the tone for the second game , especially with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue at the game . Because the snow at the game has yet to be removed , the Eagles ' notoriously rowdy fans , with a mixture of beer , the snow , the bounty and the hatred for " America ' s Team " , threw everything within reach at various targets , like back judge Al Jury , who was knocked to the ground by a barrage of snowballs ; Cowboys punter Mike Saxon , who was targeted in the end zone ; and Johnson , who was hit with snowballs , ice , and beer as he was escorted off the field by Philadelphia Police . In both games , the Eagles swept the series , winning the first game 27 - 0 , and the second 20 - 10 . New Orleans Saints bounty program . In 2012 , the New Orleans Saints were discovered to have run a " slush fund " under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams , that paid out bounuses , called " bounties " , to purposely injure offensive players that the Saints were playing against . The system was known to have operated during Williams ' s time in Buffalo and Washington . Rumors started in 2009 during the Saints Super Bowl XLIV run in the 2009 NFC Championship game against the Vikings , where the Saints defense was allegedly trying to hurt Viking quarterback Brett Favre . Other than the Vikings , the Saints also allegedly targeted Bears and Carolina Panthers players , and the program became even more notorious in the 2012 NFL Divisional Playoff Game against the San Francisco 49ers , when filmmaker Sean Pamphilon released audio tapes of Williams telling his players to injure a select group of 49ers , with one of them being running back Kendall Hunter , and to knock him out , as well as going after Kyle Williams because of his past history of concussions . Williams also told them to injure Vernon Davis ' ankles and tear wide receiver Michael Crabtree ' s ACL . According to Pamphilon , Williams also appeared to put a bounty on quarterback Alex Smith after he told his men to hit Smith in the chin , " then he rubs his thumb against his index and middle fingers - - the cash sign - - and says , " I got the first one . I got the first one . Go get it . Go lay that motherfucker out . " " Ultimately , Goodell handed down one of the harshest penalties in league history , by suspending Williams indefinitely , head coach Sean Payton for the rest of the 2012 season , interim head coach Joe Vitt for the first 6 games , and general manager Mickey Loomis for 8 games . Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was also suspended for the season , as well as defensive linemen Anthony Hargrove ( now with Green Bay ) and Will Smith for 8 and 4 games , respectively . Former Saints and current Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita was also suspended for 3 games . The player ' s suspensions were later thrown out on appeal . Player safety . There has been widespread controversy over the league ' s part in player safety . Goodell has fined Lions player Ndamukong Suh for stomping , as well as Steelers linebacker James Harrison for a hard tackle , as well as suspending the 2 players . The league has also been criticized for its efforts in preventing concussions , in which eight former players have died , and have also had concussions throughout their careers . With the suicide of linebacker Junior Seau in 2012 , concerns arose about the connection between player deaths and concussions . Washington Redskins team name . The Washington Redskins have been subject to dispute with the Native American community for many years due to the name redskin being a derogatory term for Native Americans . Free agency . The league ' s free agency system originally used a system that was adopted from Major League Baseball , where a player stays with a team until his contract expires , where he can negotiate with the team to stay . In 1947 , the league adopted the 1 - year system , where a team can only renew a players contract for one year . In 1963 , the " Rozelle Rule " was created , where a team that signs a player must compensate for the player ' s expenses from his previous team . If a team refuses , commissioner Rozelle decided the compensation . The players union found this system to be unfair , and eventually won a court action in 1976 . However , the league ' s collective bargaining agreement still kept the compensation rule , but removed Rozelle ' s authority . Ultimately , in , the players union went on strike . Two years later , the union sued again , but was prohibited from suing the league for anti - trust . From 1989 to 1992 , instead of the current free agent system , the league used a system to acquire and release players called Plan B free agency . The system consisted of teams protecting 37 players , and having the remaining players becoming unrestricted free agents . The players eventually decertified the union , leading to players filing individual lawsuits . However , eight players sued the league for violating their antitrust laws , and calling the system an unfair trade restraint . The system ultimately was deemed illegal by the jury , and was ended in 1992 . The lawsuit eventually led to the establishment of the current system , which involves the use of a salary cap . 2011 lockout . However , in 2011 , the league and the National Football League Players Association eventually failed to arrive at a consensus for the CBA , and eventually led to the lockout on March 12 . The lockout threatened to cancel games , even though only the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game was cancelled . The lockout eventually ended on July 21 with a new CBA . Referee labor dispute . In , the league and the NFL Referees Association became involved in a dispute over the collective bargaining agreement between the two parties . Eventually , the league then locked out the officials in June , and turned to replacement officials to officiate the games . A month later , the association filed a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board against the league for unfair labor practices . The replacement referees were met with criticism from fans , players and coaches . Incidents included the week one Seattle Seahawks - Arizona Cardinals game , where the Seahawks were given an extra timeout , week two where side judge Brian Stropolo was removed from the New Orleans Saints - Carolina Panthers game for being a Saints fan , and the controversial ending to the Green Bay Packers - Seahawks game in week three . In September , ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen announced that the two groups are coming closer to an agreement . Expansion Draft . Originally , the NFL did not have an expansion draft , and instead , expansion teams were given whatever players were available ; the rules at the time gave these teams two players from each existing franchise and the remainder from the local area to make up a 55 - player roster . When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were added to the NFL in 1976 , their roster ended up being composed mostly of aging veterans and inexperienced rookies , and as a result , Tampa Bay had the first winless season in modern NFL history en - route to losing their first 26 games ( the longest losing streak in NFL history ) . After significant public criticism , the NFL created an expansion draft to avoid a repeat of this very poor start for future expansion teams . Controversial calls . The league has been criticized for various calls that would later be disputed , and would also lead to a segment on NFL Top 10 called " Top Ten Most Controversial Calls " . Some of these controversial calls have directly led to rule changes . Tuck Rule . During an AFC playoff game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders , the Raiders forced a fumble near the end of the game . The Raiders recovered the fumble , thereby securing their victory . However , the call went into review by the booth , and upon review it was determined to be an incomplete pass due to the tuck rule being applied . Under the rule , if a passer " is holding the ball to pass it forward , any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass , even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body . " The Patriots went on to win the game and ultimately the Super Bowl . Fans and experts alike have disputed whether the call was correct , and whether the rule should even exist . Super Bowl XL . In Super Bowl XL , the Seattle Seahawks were denied a touchdown when officials called penalized Seahawks receiver Darrell Jackson for " pushing off " against Pittsburgh Steelers safety Chris Hope during Jackson ' s touchdown reception in the first quarter . In the second quarter , Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scored on a quarterback sneak , and Seattle challenged the call , claiming that Roethlisberger did not break the plane of the end zone , but the play stood . In the fourth quarter , Seahawks tackle Sean Locklear was penalized for holding Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans during a long pass . Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was also penalized for allegedly making an illegal block during Ike Taylor ' s interception return . The Steelers would go on to win 21 - 10 . Four years later , referee Bill Leavy issued an apology to the Seahawks . 2002 NFC Wild Card Game . During the NFC wild card game between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants , the Giants created a first half lead , which the 49ers overcame by scoring 25 points . Late in the game , the Giants , down by 1 point , attempted to kick the game - winning field goal with 6 seconds left . However , long snapper Trey Junkin botched the snap , leading to holder Matt Allen to throw a desperation pass to Rich Seubert , which fell incomplete , giving San Francisco the win . During the play , a penalty was called , but on New York for having an illegal man downfield . However , Seubert actually did report , but a different Giants player was actually illegally downfield . The 49ers would also have been penalized for pass interference on defensive end Chike Okeafor for pulling down Seubert , which wasn ' t called . The Holy Roller . In 1978 , the Oakland Raiders were trailing the San Diego Chargers 20 - 14 with 10 seconds left in the game . Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler took the snap , and saw Chargers linebacker Woodrow Lowe about to sack him . Stabler eventually deliberately fumbled the ball towards San Diego ' s goal line , where running back Pete Banaszak attempted to recover , but lost his footing and sent the ball closer to the end zone . Tight end Dave Casper attempted to pick it up , but was unable to , and kicked the ball into the end zone , where he recovered it for the game - tying touchdown . This later led to disputes over whether or not Banaszak and Casper intentionally batted the ball forward , which would be a penalty , as well as whether or not Stabler fumbled the ball or threw a forward pass . The play was eventually ruled as legal . The Raiders would then make the extra point to win 21 - 20 . In the ensuing off - season , the league enacted the so - called " Ken Stabler Rule " : on fourth down at any time in the game or any down in the final two minutes of a half , if a player fumbles forward , only the fumbling player can recover and / or advance the ball . If that player ' s teammate recovers the ball , it is placed back at the spot of the fumble . Bert Emanuel . In the , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trailed the St . Louis Rams by 5 points . With 47 seconds left in the game , Buccaneers quarterback Shaun King threw an 11 - yard pass to Bert Emanuel , who caught the ball , but had the play overturned after the ball touched the ground , giving the Rams the trip to Super Bowl XXXIV . The league then enacted the " Bert Emanuel Rule " after the season : the ball can touch the ground during a completed pass as long as the receiver maintains control of the ball . ' 1979 AFC Championship . Against the Steelers in the , the Houston Oilers fell behind 17 - 10 late in the third quarter . Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini then threw a pass to Mike Renfro , who caught the ball in the back of the end zone . However , though television networks proved that Renfro was inbounds , instant replay was not in use at the time , and the referees ultimately ruled Renfro out of bounds . The Steelers would then score another touchdown and go to Super Bowl XIV . The league would not institute instant replay until 1986 . Music City Miracle . The Titans and Buffalo Bills squared off in the , and the Bills led 16 - 15 with 16 seconds left in the game . After Bills kicker Steve Christie kicked off to Titans returner Lorenzo Neal , Neal handed the ball to Frank Wycheck , who then threw a lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson , who then ran 75 yards for a touchdown and the lead . This then led to officials debating over whether or not Wycheck ' s pass was a forward pass or a lateral . Referee Phil Luckett then deemed the pass a lateral , giving Tennessee the win . Immaculate Reception . In the , the Steelers and Raiders fought to a 7 - 6 lead for Oakland . With 22 seconds left in the game , Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw heaved a pass towards John Fuqua , and Raiders safety Jack Tatum collided with Fuqua at the same time as the ball ' s arrival . Tatum ' s hit knocked Fuqua down and the ball flying backwards . Steelers running back Franco Harris , who had been heading downfield in the event that Bradshaw needed another receiver , caught the ball before it hit the ground and ran for the game - winning touchdown . However , fans and critics eventually asked the question : Whom did the ball touch in the Tatum / Fuqua collision ? If it hit only Fuqua , the pass would ' ve been illegal under the rules at the time , and Oakland would have won ; if it hit Tatum , or both Fuqua and Tatum ( in any order ) , it would have been legal . The rule stated that once an offensive player touches a pass , he is the only offensive player that can catch the pass . However , if a defensive player touches the pass " first , or simultaneously with or subsequent to its having been touched by only one [ offensive ] player , then all [ offensive ] players become and remain eligible " to catch the pass . 2012 Packers - Seahawks game . On September 24 , 2012 , the Green Bay Packers faced the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football . With the NFL and the league ' s regular referees locked in a contract dispute , replacement officials were acquired to call the games for the first 3 - 4 weeks . As in previous games , there were many questionable calls made by the replacement officials during the game . In the 4th quarter , with only 8 seconds left in the game , the Packers were winning 12 - 7 , with the Seahawks inside the 30 - yard line , with one last play to decide the game . Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary pass to the end zone . The pass ended up being caught by both Seahawks receiver Golden Tate and Packers defensive back M . D . Jennings . The two officials standing near the play each made their own call of the play . One official seemed to raise his arms to signal a Packers interception , while the other official raised his arms to signal a Seahawks touchdown . As with new NFL rules on instant replay , all touchdowns were liable to official review . The play was reviewed , while the Seahawks crowded the field in celebration . After a few minutes , full of controversy , the officials declared the play ' s ruling stood as a Seahawks touchdown , giving Seattle a 14 - 12 victory . Almost instantly , controversy reigned as replays showed that the Packers ' Jennings clearly had possession of the ball , while the Seahawks ' Tate had only one hand on the ball . A loud outcry came out from not only irate Packer fans but also NFL fans in general . It was reported that in the hours after the game , the NFL commissioner ' s office received over 70 , 000 voice - mails regarding the play . The controversy even drew remarks from people outside of football , as basketball player LeBron James and professional golfer Bubba Watson both sent messages via Twitter giving their own criticism on the play . NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt , Jr . stated that the season has been " stained in a way that ' s irreparable " .