NFL Is Looking For Gang Signs; Players Beware

by John Bena on Jul 16, 2008 11:26 AM MDT in Strictly My Opinion Comment 7 comments

The NFL has hired "gang experts" to review tape of touchdown celebrations to see if players are flashing any type of gang signs. Longtime NFL columnist Sam Farmer of the LA Times first reported the NFL is reviewing tape to see if players are flashing the signs.

While the NFL has always been concerned about any type of affiliation, be it real or perceived, between NFL players and gangs, the heat was turned up after the death of Darrent Williams. Williams was involved with in an altercation with suspected gang members prior to being gunned down. There were also pictures on Williams' MYSpace page where he is flashing known gang signs.

"There have been some suspected things we've seen," said Milt Ahlerich, the league's vice president of security. "When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist. Period."

The NFL also paid attention to the actions of the NBA, when in April Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics was fined $25K for flashing "menacing gestures" towards the Atlanta Hawks bench. After watching the gestures on tape the NBA acted swiftly and harshly.

Paul Pierce lost 25 Large for flashing gang signs

via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

"We were always suspicious that [gang-related hand signals] might be happening," said Mike Pereira, the NFL's vice president of officiating. "But the Paul Pierce thing is what brought it to light. When he was fined . . . that's when we said we need to take a look at it and see if we need to be aware of it."

NFL Officials won't try to identify the gestures, but will notify the League office it they are suspicious of any activity.

"It will be dealt with harshly. The commissioner is not going to stand for gang signals on the field.", added Pereira.

While I think this is a valiant effort to try and keep the game "clean", proving such actions are going to be tough. Think about it, if I score a TD, and give the "W" gesture with my hand, can't I claim it stood for Washington or Win?? As always, I welcome your thoughts.

Poll

Do you think gang signs are a problem in the NFL?

Definitely. There's no place in the game for it

113 votes

What?!? Aren't there bigger issues, like the CBA??

73 votes

186 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Why is this the first I've ever heard of DWill having gang signs on his

MySpace page? Is it all of a sudden “okay” to let the truth out? This story is upsetting me…couldn’t you talk about Pacman Jones instead? Leave the dead guy out of it dammit. Now I am all angry…

You know, we have an old Irish form of justice. We call it capping someone. The gang bangers stole our age old term, but I say we bring it back Irish style. If an NFL player is caught flashing known gang signs on the field of play then he shall be “capped” the old Irish way. You have the player stand straight up, you place a pistol to the back of his kneecap and pull the trigger.(It’s how the old IRA dealt with drug dealers and traitors)

Ok ok, I guess that’s a little harsh, but I think a year suspension on the first offense will weed the good from the bad real quick. Those who can’t or won’t leave gang life will never step onto a field again, while the good ones who do leave will be able to continue to make their millions.

Does capping fall under the “cruel and unusual” form of punishment in the Constitution? Wait, we disregard the consistution for just about everything anyway, let’s bring back capping!!! ;) I’ll go create a website called: Capping For Justice that will promote capping of drug dealers, sex offenders, and gang flasing football players!!! That’s it, I’ll be rich before you know it!

lol Yes…I am bored. ;)

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 16, 2008 3:58 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This is the first I heard of it too.

I have to admit, as sad and as angered as I was at the murder (and still am), I am pretty shocked to hear that Darrent was doing the gang sign thing on his page. That’s serious stuff, and might change some of my thoughts about how I look at some things. I’m terribly dissapointed.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Jul 16, 2008 4:05 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Try not to...

jump to conclusions or fill in the blanks in my story. I am not insinuating anything. I am trying to find the photo now to show you guys….

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Jul 16, 2008 4:36 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course...

No longer there. Take a look at the D-Will section for all the stories going back to that time. I’m not saying D-Will was a gang-banger. There was a feeling that some of the music coming from his label – Ryno Entertainment – could have rubbed some people the wrong way. In the end, it really doesn’t matter. He didn’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood, and nothing he did that night caused, or made worse, the altercation that took place.

I brought D-Will into the story because the NFL specifically talked about the D-Will case when giving its reasons for taking a closer look at these types of things.

-TSG

www.milehighreport.com

by John Bena on Jul 16, 2008 4:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

archive.org's wayback machine

doesn’t seem to have it…. MySpace’s TOS probably prevent them from taking snapshots. That is usually my go-to for old web content. Alas, not for this one.

by jonahsilas on Jul 16, 2008 5:54 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice idea

however it will be interesting to see how they deal with this whether it be suspensions or fines. I do however think somethin should be done al least to get rid of gang signs in the game one way or another.

I can’t really say too much about D-Will, however i hope when the NFL is dealing with this they don’t drag Darrent’s name through the mud.

by weazel on Jul 16, 2008 5:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs