The NFL: Hypocrisy at its Best

This week's Monday Night Football game between Dallas and the Eagles featured an ABC opening that attempted to cross-promote the ABC Sunday night hit show Desperate Housewives. In the open, Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens posed with actress Nicollette Sheridan, a star of the hit series. Sheridan was seen wearing nothing but a towel while urging Owens to give up playing in the game to spend some time with her. In the final few seconds of the piece, Sheridan dropped the towel and jumped into Owens' arms. After she dropped her towel, he agreed to be late for the game and hugged her. Then the shot panned out to two more stars of "Desperate Housewives," Teri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman, watching the scene unfold on a television and commenting on desperate women.

Lots of viewers saw the piece, and complained to ABC and the NFL. But it didn't seem to draw any reactions from those powers until the Mike and the Mad Dog radio show on New York's WFAN complained, and called ABC and the NFL to have people come on their show and explain. They both complained. Later, everyone issued apologies (note that all apologies were issued after the radio rant which began about 1:30 PM EST).

The NFL - "ABC's opening was inappropriate and unsuitable for our Monday Night Football audience. While ABC may have gained attention for one of its other shows, the NFL and its fans lost." The implies that the NFL had no knowledge beforehand of the opening sequence, even though it was fimed in the Eagles locker room with Owens wearing his Eagles (NFL) jersey. This is the same NFL that:

• was "... extremely disappointed by elements of the MTV-produced Halftime show. They were totally inconsistent with assurances our office was given about the show. It's unlikely that MTV will produce another Super Bowl halftime." This was their reaction to the Janet Jackson exposed breast incident during halftime of the Super Bowl.
• Upheld league policy and and threatened to fine Denver Bronco QB from wearing a decal on his helmet commemorating fallen former teammate Pat Tillman, who was killed in Afghanistan. Tillman left the NFL and volunteered for the Army Rangers.
• Forbade Indianapolis Colt QB Peyton Manning from wearing black high top sneakers to honor former colt QB and NFL legend Johnny Unitas. Black high tops are not standard NFL issue.
• Condemned Owens' actions for taking out a Sharpie pen and autographing a football after scoring a touchdown on Monday Night football. That set precedent for punishment on future such outbursts, leading to...
• A $30,000 fine for New Orleans wide receiver Joe Horn, who pulled a cell phone from the goal post padding and pretended to make a call after scoring a touchdown.

ABC - "We have heard from many of our viewers about last night's Monday Night Football opening segment, and we agree that the placement was inappropriate. We apologize." So they feel the placement was inappropriate, not the skit itself. I understand when your ratings are terrible, but give me a break.

The Eagles - After seeing the final piece, we wish it hadn't aired." So the piece is filmed with their star player in official uniform, in their locker room, and they didn't see the final piece?

Clearly ABC and the NFL know that gray area between immoral and decent. Let's see if the FCC disagrees. Regardless, the NFL has demonstrated that showboating is fine when it is to their benefit. I guess if TO had used an NFL-licensed Sharpie, or Horn a cell phone with the NFL partner prominently featured...