Bad boys, bad boys, it looks like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is coming for you.

As part of the league's annual spring meetings, which formally begin Monday morning in Phoenix, Goodell is expected to unveil a far-reaching disciplinary policy for players who get in trouble away from the field.

The new policy, which is expected to be unveiled Tuesday after Goodell has presented it to the franchise owners and other top team officials, likely will include harsher and quicker punishments.

Goodell, since offering before the Super Bowl that "one incident is too many," has spent weeks speaking to players, both current and former, NFL Players' Association executive director Gene Upshaw, coaches, owners and experts outside the NFL in formulating a policy to address what he has called "an incredibly important issue."

"The policy could be in effect immediately when he decides that he's comfortable with it, and so, yes, it could be as soon as next week," said league spokesman Greg Aiello this week.

With the salary cap at a record $109 million per team this season and set to rise to about $116 million in 2008, revenues are pouring in, salaries are at an all-time high, the league's popularity is unquestioned and the issue of players getting in trouble is seen as a threat to at least some of that.

And while the NFL continues to beef up and invest money in its testing for steroids as well as other performance-enhancing drugs - earlier this year, the league added to the number of times players can be tested - it is off-the-field behavior that has become a flash point issue in the league.

"I think we're all concerned with the things that go on off the field and how the actions of a few may affect the many," Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay said.

"And (I) don't like that. So I do expect something. . . . And I'll just be interested to see how the policy is revised. Do I expect it to be? I really do."

The Cincinnati Bengals' legal woes - nine players have been arrested on variety of charges in a little more than a year - the fact Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has been questioned by police or arrested on 10 occasions since joining the team in 2005, and that Chicago defensive tackle Tank Johnson needed a special ruling by a judge to play in the Super Bowl because of weapons charges are just some of the kinds of episodes Goodell is targeting.

Earlier this week, Johnson was sentenced to four months in jail.

"(Goodell) is looking to develop an overall comprehensive and more effective program," Aiello said. "As he puts it, one negative incident is too many for him."

The commissioner doesn't need a "yes" vote from league owners on the matter, either. It is part of the position's power that Goodell can set league disciplinary policy and dole out the punishments.

But he has tried to find a consensus because one component of the new policy is expected to be swifter punishments. Whereas in the past the league has waited for the legal process to be completed, a new policy is expected to include the potential for Goodell to hand out punishment, including suspensions and fines, before all of the legal avenues are completed.

And to do that efficiently, Goodell would need the backing of Upshaw and the players' union to avoid legal challenges. Goodell met with several players and union officials at the scouting combine last month in Indianapolis.

Aiello said Goodell was "encouraged by the strong stance" the players have taken on discipline in those talks.

Aiello added that Goodell also believes that in addition to beefing up the league's discipline policies, more work needed to be done to educate players to the risks and potential trouble spots away from the field.

"One is the education component - player programs and rookie symposium and veteran life-skill programs and how to evolve and improve and strengthen those," Aiello said. "And then the other track would be the disciplinary track, and the discussion is how to make that more effective."

Earlier this year, Goodell said, "We're proud of our players. We recognize that at times some of our players don't do what we would hope they do. When that happens, we will be very aggressive in dealing with that and we have stepped up our discipline this year, and I intend to continue to do that."

Rules are rules . . .

In addition to changes in the player conduct policy, here are some additional items on the agenda in the area of rules changes at the NFL's annual meetings; any rules change requires a three-quarters "yes" vote from the league's 32 franchise owners:

• Moving the kickoff in overtime from the 30-yard line (used in regulation) to the 35-yard line to increase the chances of a touchback, thus not allowing the first possession of the extra time to influence the outcome of so many games.

• A proposal to make the use of replay permanent. Use of the current system is set to expire in two seasons.

• A proposal to assess a 5-yard penalty to players who spike the ball on the field after a play. Spiking the ball still would be allowed after touchdowns.

• Changing injury reports. Currently, players are listed as probable, questionable, doubtful or out from Wednesday on during the week. The new proposal would only use those designations on Fridays. Earlier in the week, teams would list what the injury is, as well as how much a player practiced.

• Adding a coach-to-player communication device to a defensive player's helmet. This proposal didn't receive enough votes last year.

• Adding some time in the week before the Super Bowl when assistant coaches with the two Super Bowl teams can interview for head coaching jobs.

• Tampa Bay has proposed all penalties, except offensive holding, be subject to the use of replay. Currently, penalties are not reviewed.

• San Francisco has proposed giving officials a choice on pass- interference calls, based on severity of the infraction - spotting the ball where the penalty occurred or a 15-yard penalty. Currently, the ball is spotted where the penalty occurred.

legwoldj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2359

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