NFL Investigating Brandon Spikes Video, May be Contract Violation
The National Football League is currently investigating New England Patriots rookie star Brandon Spikes and a potential contract violation for his role in a sexually explicit video. The video in question was found on the online video chatting site Chatroulette and shows Spikes and a female companion engaging in acts of oral sex, according to CBS News.
NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello is quoted, "We are looking into it. The league's personal policy states that those associated with the league must avoid conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League." And therein lies the potential contract violation on the part of Spikes, his role in the video is not good for the integrity of professional football. In addition to being in a contract with the Patriots, Spike is also under contract with the organization as a whole. The internet sex tape would likely amount to a violation of his contract with the NFL regarding acceptable personal conduct of a player.
Spikes's agent, Terry Watson also weighed in on the Brandon Spikes video, "it was something that occurred before he became an NFL draftee and a New England Patriot and certainly does not reflect the kind of person he is." The 2010 second round draft pick could also be in violation of his contract with the Patriots. Watson's statement that the video was made before being drafted by the NFL is the defense to any potential contract violation, essentially noting that although the actions may be a contract violation, at the time of filming, he was not under any contract with the NFL because he was not in the NFL.
The dirty detective work on the part of the NFL will be the ultimate judge of whether some type of sanctions should be imposed on Brandon Spikes for his role in the video. The majority of professional sports have moral turpitude clauses aimed a regulating player conduct on and off in the field. Although imposing a personal code of conduct on football players may take on different definitions for different players, it is relatively undeniable that an internet sex tape would fall under the category of what not to do.
Related Resources:
- Brandon Spikes Video Leads to NFL Investigation (Back Porch Fan House)
- NFL QB Ben Roethlisberger Not Yet Interviewed About Allegations (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Sports Law (FindLaw's Law Brain)
