Prad 564

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The New England Patriots & the Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation
Tragic Turnover
Abstract
Is the reputation of an organization defined by the individual actions of its employees? On June 17, 2013, New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of Odin Lloyd. The Patriots response to the investigation and the established policies and procedures by the organization and the NFL will be examined. This case study will reveal the tone of media coverage and the social media conversation. Additionally, the study will investigate how Patriots stakeholders are affected by the Hernandez trial and challenges the organization must overcome in order to maintain (protect) a positive reputation.
Table of Contents
I. CASE STUDY 1. Overview 2. History of the Patriots Organization 3. History of Violent Crimes in the NFL 4. Brief History of Aaron Hernandez 5. Chronology of Events 6. Policies and Procedures a. NFL Policies and Procedures b. New England Patriots Policies and Procedures c. Patriots Response: 7. Media Tone and Tenor a. News Outlets b. Social Media 8. Financial/Stakeholder Impact 9. Patriots Challenge II. APPENDICES III. REFERENCES
I. CASE STUDY
1. Overview Bristol, Connecticut native Aaron Hernandez was a New England Patriot long before he wore the jersey. That was until Wednesday, June 26, 2013 when the Patriots released him. Less than two hours after being arrested at his North Attleborogh, Mass. home for his alleged involvement in the murder of friend Odin Lloyd, the New England Patriots dropped Hernandez like a bad habit. Many reporters, teammates, friends and even family members argue rightfully so. With a documented record of violent activity, drug use and overall bad behavior, Hernandez's murder case comes as no surprise to those who know him best. How did the Patriots organization deal with this unforeseen incident? Will this influence the Patriots reputation? In order to fully comprehend the complexity of maintaining the Patriots reputation, it is important to analyze the communication during the time of the incident. It is equally important to assess the overall business implications for the New England Patriots.
2. History of the Patriots Organization The New England Patriots, also known as The Pats are a professional football team in the East Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). Based in the Boston suburb of Foxborough, Mass., The New England Patriots are one of eight original members of the American Football League (AFL). The Pats have a rich history of success, ranking third in the NFL for total Super Bowl appearances. Even though ticket prices are the second-highest in the league and the capacity of Gillette Stadium is lower than that of the average NFL team, the Pats have sold out every home game since 1994. (FORBES) In the last 12 years, the Patriots have won 146 regular-season games, made it to the Super Bowl five times, winning three titles. According to Boston Magazine,(hathaway) the Patriots have only had 16 arrests since 2000. They have the 10th fewest arrests in the NFL league, which includes 32 teams. All things considered, Patriots players are much better at staying out of trouble than the rest of the league. Under the direction of head coach Bill Belichick the Patriots have become one of the most successful teams in the history of the NFL. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the Pats are so protective of their reputation. With a rich history and a proven record of success, the New England Patriots have become one of the most praised and respected franchises in professional football.
3. History of Violent Crimes in the NFL Over the years the NFL has developed a track record of players committing violent crimes. NFL players have been arrested at least 395 times since Commissioner Roger Goodell took office in 2006.(Schrotenboer) Since the February 3, 2013 Super Bowl at least 10 NFL players have been accused of driving drunk and of course, murder. (Schrotenboer) Among the infamous incidents, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shocked the world in 2012 when he got drunk and fatally shot his girlfriend and then himself. Only a week later, Josh Brent, Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle allegedly flipped his car while driving drunk and killed his passenger and teammate Jerry Brown. (Schrotenboer). Even though many of the vicious NFLs crimes have been committed against people, dogs have also been victims. In 2007, Michael Vick was suspended indefinitely without pay when he pleaded guilty to dogfighting. The (then) Atlanta Falcons quarterback was sentenced to 23 months in prison. (associated press) After he served his time, it did not take long for him to re-enter the league. Only a week passed between Vick being released from custody and signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, only to show that talent outweighs crime in the world of sports. (associated press) Of course there is the most notorious case, which included one of the NFL's top running backs in the 1970s, Buffalo Bills, OJ Simpson. In 1994, Simpson was was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman. A civil court awarded a judgment against Simpson for wrongful deaths in 1997, but Simpson has yet to pay much of the $33.5 million penalty fee. Simpson eventually ran into the law again in 2008, when he was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping. (associated press) Even though there is an extensive list of NFL players who have been involved in violent crimes, they are not the only professional athletes involved in unlawful activities. The NBA, NHL and MLB all have numerous players who have had run-ins with the law whether it be for domestic violence or substance abuse. With each generation, children want to grow up and be like the professional athletes and adults continue to support them. Considering the amount of fan support and money involved in professional sports, in the eyes of the American public, crime or no crime, it is entertainment. 4. Brief History of Aaron Hernandez Aaron Hernandez was born to Dennis Hernandez, who was of Puerto Rican descent, and Terri Valentine-Hernandez, who is of Italian descent. (Wikipedia) When he was twelve years old his mother was arrested in a statewide crackdown for booking bets on sports. According to Rolling Stone magazine, although Terri did not serve time in jail, she cast shame on Aaron and dug a hole between them that only deepened over the years. (Solotaroff)
In 2006, Dennis Hernandez died after complications during a hernia surgery. According to his mother, Aaron rebelled after the passing of his father and began hanging out with the wrong crowd, on the wrong side of town. As a young child, Aaron had his sights set on UConn's football program, the school his dad attended and eventually dropped out. This was until, then University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer convinced him otherwise. (Solotaroff) During his first year at Florida, Hernandez had an argument with a waiter and punched him in the head at a bar. According to the police report the waiter suffered a ruptured eardrum, but didnt press charges, telling the cops he was talking to Florida coaches. The matter seems to have been settled out of court. They treated the incident as a juvenile offense, giving Hernandez a deferred prosecution on the hush. (Solotaroff) Despite a troublesome yet successful college career at Florida, Hernandez FINISH ME!!!!!!!!! 5. Chronology of Events Slifer June 14, 2013 Odin Lloyd, 27, went to Rumor, a Boston nightclub with Hernandez. According to the Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Bill McCauley, Hernandez was upset that Lloyd had spoken to people with whom Hernandez had prior disputes with. June 16, 2013 Hernandez texted (blank and blank) asking them to rush to Massachusetts from Connecticut. A few minutes after, at 9:05 p.m., Hernandez texted Lloyd to tell him he wanted to get together. Surveillance footage from Hernandez's home showed (blank and blank) arriving at Hernandezs home. Aaron was holding a gun, in rage screaming that he couldn't trust anyone anymore. June 17, 2013 1:12 a.m. - The three left Hernandezs home in a rented silver Nissan Altima. Cell towers tracked their movements to a gas station off the highway. 2:32 a.m. - Hernandez texted Lloyd that they had arrived outside his home in Boston. Lloyd's sister testifies to seeing him get into Hernandez's car. 3:23 a.m. - Surveillance video showed the car entering the industrial park in close proximity to where Lloyd's body was found.
The New England Patriots & the Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation 3:27 a.m. - Surveillance cameras capture the Nissan Altima exiting the park. During that period, employees working an overnight shift nearby heard several gunshots, McCauley said. McCauley said Lloyd was shot multiple times, including twice from above as he was lying on the ground. He said five .45 caliber shells were found at the scene. 3:29 a.m. - Surveillance at Hernandez's home showed him arriving
From that point forward, the surveillance system had stopped recording after Hernandez and friends returned, and footage was missing from the six to eight hours after the slaying of Odin Lloyd. Later that day, Hernandez returned the rental car. While cleaning the car, the attendant found shell casing along with Blue bubblicious gum that Aaron was seen buying earlier in the evening. The attendant threw both pieces of evidence away, however police recovered both the gum and the casing after investigations began. The prosecutor said it was tested and matched the casings found where Lloyd was killed. The investigation of the Aaron Hernandez murder trial began to pick up steam after a jogger called the police after finding Lloyd's body in the industrial park where he was murdered that sunday morning. In the days following, Hernandez would be under the microscope of news media and the center of an ongoing police investigation. The following day, Police spent hours searching Hernandezs home and industrial park, and shortly thereafter the Bristol county district attorneys office ruled Lloyds death a homicide. In the midst of media scrutiny, on June 20th, Aaron Hernandez was seen frantically running away from reporters as he journeyed to the Patriots stadium and to legal offices near the Bristol, Conn. area. In that same day, Alexander Bradley files a lawsuit claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club in Miami in February. The new developments forced the hand of many sponsors associated with Hernandez including Muscle Milk, a supplement drink for athletes, who publicly ended its endorsement contract due to the murder investigation.
B y the end of the week, Police began to raid the Hernandez home searching for evidence and on June 26, 2013 Hernandez was taken away from his home in handcuffs. Nearly two hours after his arrest the New England Patriots released a statement announcing his release from the team. That evening, Hernandez was transported to Attleboro District Court where he was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd as well as five weapons counts. He was ordered to be held without bail. After executing a search warrant at Hernandezs home and charging Carlos Ortiz, as a fugitive from justice in connection with the ongoing investigation; Ernest Wallace, another accomplice who was supposedly at the scene of the crime on June 17th, turns himself in to authorities in Miramar, Fla. around 1:30 p.m. After appearing before the judge in court in Bristol, Conn. Ortiz was ruled to be extradited to Massachusetts. During the ongoing investigation, Odin Lloyd's funeral was held at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Boston on June 29, 2013. 6. Policies and Procedures a. NFL Policies and Procedures Upon taking over in 2007 as NFL Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue made it his priority to change the perception of the league by instituting the personal conduct policy. This policy was made to impose harsher penalties to players who broke the law. From 2007 to 2012, the number of offseason arrests fell from 32 to 20 a decrease of 37.5% (Knowles). The overall average rate of arrest over the past ten years combined was 3.5%. This means that out of the
2,880 players active in the league, 3.5% of them would be arrested. Halfway through 2013, that same arrest average jumped to 4.5%, translating to one or two arrest per NFL team. The Player Conduct Policy is an overview of how situations involving inappropriate behavior, perceived or convicted, will be handled by league office officials. The evaluation of these incidents are organized into four processes:
Evaluation o Upon determining the extent of the players conviction, individuals are required to undergo evaluation and treatment. This includes an education program, counseling, or other treatment deemed appropriate by a health professional. Discipline o In the discipline stage, the NFL has the right to initiate an investigation of its own including interviews and information gathering from medical, law enforcement, and other relevant professionals (NFLPA). Nearly 32 percent of player arrest end with a legal conviction (Blumstein); that is outside of the banishment the NFL has the right to impose on any player involved in behavior detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the National Football League. Hearing Rights o Players have the right to appeal the disciplinary action imposed by the NFL within three business days. Reinstatement o If the suspension instituted by the NFL is one year or greater, the player association member can file to be reinstated one month prior to the one year anniversary of the suspension (NFLPA). See Appendix (1) for complete Player Conduct Policy b. New England Patriots Policies and Procedures An NFL team will spend millions each year employing a web of former cops and ex -FBI agents to keep an eye on players and their posses (SOLOTAROFF). New England has a similar task force filled with ex-FBI agents and retired officers. Their responsibility is to oversee all player incidences off the field. As stated in the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, Clubs are to report incidents that come to their attention that may be considered a violation of the newly administered policy. Failure to report an incident will constitute conduct detrimental and will be taken into consideration in making disciplinary determination under this policy. (NFL) c. Patriots Response:
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June 26, 2013: Patriots release Aaron Hernandez Wednesday (the next day after his arrest) A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation. We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do. (BARNWELL) July 1, 2013: Owner Robert Kraft returns from vacation and speaks publicly on the issue No one in our organization was aware of any of these kind of connections. If its true, Im just shocked, Kraft said in his office at Gillette Stadium. Our whole organization has been duped. July 25, 2013: Patriots open training camp: Bill Belicheck: Spoke for 22 minutes Wednesday and said the team would learn from the "terrible experience." Tom Brady: "The fate of our season is going to be determined by the guys in the locker room," Brady said, "and, hopefully, nothing else." "Certainly, it's a very tragic thing that happened and someone loses their life," Brady said, "but all those things were out of the players' control here. We're not really a part of that situation." Throughout the process of the investigation, the Patriots were hesitant in speaking publicly about the issue. 7. Media Tone and Tenor a. News Outlets As one can imagine, it was a media frenzy surrounding the Aaron Hernandez investigation. Like many high profile cases, the Aaron Hernandez murder investigation was a real time development; every piece of evidence and every action Aaron Hernandez took after June 17th was under a microscope. More importantly is how the trial will pan out since a majority of the evidence and news breaking events have been feature stories in the media. News outlets have created headlines
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with punchy lines that are factually correct, but may cause readers to think Hernandez is guilty (MCCANN). Trial judges are entrusted with ensuring that proceedings are not contaminated by prejudice and outside pressures; Those pressures include journalists, who want to break news (MCCANN). Many news outlets like ABC, CBS, CNN, and ESPN have maintained a timeline of events surrounding the ongoing investigation of Aaron Hernandez. The recent events have also motivated reporters to investigate the legal history of Aaron, dating back to his tenure at The University of Florida as well as his humble beginnings in the Boston area in order to justify his character. The most notable incident being covered by the news media was of Aaron driving around the North Attleborough are from his home to the New England Patriots stadium and offices on June 21st. Reporters have of yet to confirm the former tight end's intentions, however in a statement released by the Patriots, a source noted that " they didn't feel the stadium should be the site of a media stakeout" (RAPOPORT 2). To many, this was the beginning of media scrutiny that has followed Aaron Hernandez to date. Although sports enthusiast may be able to easily trace the name of the star tight end back to the New England Patriots organization, many publications did not include the organization in the title of their reports. News outlets solicited their reports to contain the new discovery or development and Aaron Hernandez's name independently. A few examples are as follows: Cleveland.com: "Aaron Hernandez taken from home in handcuffs; New England Patriots release him" Sports Illustrated: "Breaking down the murder case against Aaron Hernandez" NFL: "Aaron Hernandez denied bail; timeline of events"
New York Times: "Hernandezs Troubles Rose Under N.F.L.s Vigilant Eye" People: "Aaron Hernandez from NFL star to murder suspect." b. Social Media Twitter
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Even though Hernandez has yet to be convicted of murder, many people took to social media to show their opposition for his involvement in the Odin Lloyd murder. As with most sensitive celebrity cases, the public used the Hernandez case as an opportunity to show humor. Twitter exploded with the viral trend "#Hernandezing", which mocked Hernandez's arrest photo.
Chandler In addition to the public, members of the NFL took to Twitter to express a variety of opinions, but mostly support for Hernandez in the unfortunate case. Former Patriots defensive tackle Kyle Love was one of the first players to publicly react to the news. Love was a rookie with the Patriots along with Hernandez during the 2010 season. I feel some type of way about this Hernandez situation! #sad for my boy Kyle Love (@KyleLove74) June 26, 2013 Hate this happened Kyle Love (@KyleLove74) June 26, 2013 Prayers go up for both sides! Kyle Love (@KyleLove74) June 26, 2013 Other NFL players took to Twitter to react to the Aaron Hernandez arrest and murder of Odin Lloyd:
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Facebook Overall, the public was split into two categories: Patriots fans, who were in support of Hernandez because of his contributions to the franchise and everyone else. Not all Patriots were on Aaron's side but the vast majority of his support did come from Pats fans and New England residents. According to Facebook, within a week after his arrest there were hundreds of comments on his personal page. Upon reviewing the tonality of the first twenty comments, 50% were positive, 30% were negative and the remaining 20% were neutral.
Financial/Stakeholder Impact According to his amended contract, Hernandez is guaranteed a total of $16 million. Of that, $9.25 million in a signing bonus already has been paid, with the final $3.24 million due in March 2014. (Rapoport 1). Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network notes that the contract extension signed just one year prior does not contain any failure to perform clauses (BARNWELL) that
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are present in almost all other contracts. This clause would prevent the Patriots from paying him his guaranteed money even if legal troubles prevented him from taking the field (Rapoport 1). The only clause that prevents any monies being owed to Hernandez is presented in Paragraph 32(d) of his amended contract; a workout clause that is null and void if the player fails to report (Rapaport 1); totaling in the amount of $1 million. Consequently, over the next two years Aaron Hernandez is guaranteed to make $2.5 million ($1.32 in 2013 and $1.14 million in 2014). Since Hernandez was released after June 1, the cap hit is spread over two seasons, but combined with guaranteed base salaries for 2013 and 2014, the financial impact is noticeable. Even though the organization may have an opportunity to recoup the money it owes Aaron Hernandez, its unlikely to prevent the deal from hitting their salary cap (BARNWELL).
8. Patriots Challenge "People are starting to get fed up with this. It hurts the NFL's reputation. It hurts the players' reputation. It isn't good for kids who look up to these people." - Detroit Lions fullback, Cory Schlesinger. (Cannon, A., & Glasser,) Schlesinger made this comment in 2000, when Ray Lewis was accused of murder. Ironically, it still remains true today. The New England Patriots are challenged with restoring their brands reputation. An organization's reputation is not defined by its employees, but it is deterred. The Patriots fans remain supportive of the franchise, as they will forever be, but the challenge is being able to maintain the respect of the general public (non-fans), other NFL teams and the media.
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II. APPENDICES
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required to participate in an education program, counseling or other treatment deemed appropriate by health professionals. The evaluation and any resulting counseling or treatment are designed to provide assistance and are not considered discipline; however, the failure to comply with this portion of the Policy shall itself constitute a separate and independent basis for discipline. Discipline: Upon learning of conduct that may give rise to discipline, the League may initiate an investigation to include interviews and information gathering from medical, law enforcement, and other relevant professionals. On matters involving NFL players, the League will timely advise the NFLPA of the investigation and outcome. As appropriate, the employee will also have the opportunity, represented by counsel and/or a union official, to address the conduct at issue. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Commissioner will have full authority to impose discipline as warranted. Discipline may take the form of fines, suspension, or banishment from the League and may include a probationary period and conditions that must be satisfied prior to or following reinstatement. The specifics of the disciplinary response will be based on the nature of the incident, the actual or threatened risk to the participant and others, any prior or additional misconduct (whether or not criminal charges were filed), and other relevant factors. Unless the available facts clearly indicate egregious circumstances, significant bodily harm or risk to third parties, or an immediate and substantial risk to the integrity and reputation of the NFL, a first offense generally will not result in discipline until there has been a disposition of the proceeding (or until the investigation is complete in the case of noncriminal misconduct). With respect to repeat offenders, the Commissioner may impose discipline on an enhanced and/or expedited basis. In such cases, the timing and nature of the discipline will be determined by the Commissioner based on several factors including but not limited to: the severity of the initial charge and later charge; the facts underlying the later charge; the length of time between the initial offense and later charge; and the player or employees compliance with counseling and other programs. Following a full investigation and/or resolution of the proceedings, the Commissioner will review the matter and make any appropriate adjustments. Hearing Rights: Following the imposition of discipline, the affected person will have the right to appeal the decision. (For players, the disciplinary decision must be appealed within three (3) business days.) Persons filing an appeal shall be entitled to a prompt hearing pursuant to Article 46 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the NFL Constitution and Bylaws, to be conducted by the Commissioner or his designee. In cases involving players, the NFLPA will be entitled to participate in the hearing.
Effective: June 1, 2012
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Reinstatement: Any person suspended indefinitely or for at least one year may seek reinstatement beginning one month prior to the one-year anniversary of the suspension. As part of his consideration of the application for reinstatement from a player, the Commissioner will seek the views of the NFLPA and may consult medical, law enforcement, and other relevant professionals. Other Provisions: Covered Persons This policy applies to all players under contract; all coaches; all game officials; all full-time employees of the NFL, NFL clubs, and all NFL-related entities; all rookie players once they are selected in the NFL college draft; and all undrafted rookie players, unsigned veterans who were under contract in the prior League Year, and other prospective employees once they commence negotiations with a club concerning employment. Clubs are strongly encouraged to communicate this policy to independent contractors and consultants and to make clear that violations of this policy will be grounds for terminating a business relationship . Disposition of a Criminal Proceeding includes an adjudication of guilt or admission to a criminal violation; a plea to a lesser included offense; a plea of nolo c ontendere or no contest; or the disposition of the proceeding through a diversionary program, deferred adjudication, disposition of supervision, conditional dismissal or similar arrangements. Probationary Period Persons found to have violated this policy may be placed on a period of probation as determined by the Commissioner. During such period, restrictions on certain activities, limitations on participation in Club activities, or other conditions may be imposed. Repeat Offenders Persons who have had previous violations of law or of this policy may be considered repeat offenders. When appropriate, conduct occurring prior to the persons association with the League will be considered. Reporting of Incidents The League must be advised promptly of any incident that may be a violation of this policy, and particularly when any conduct results in an arrest or other criminal charge. Players and club employees must report any such incident to the club, which must then report it to NFL Security at (800) NFL -1099. Failure to report an incident will constitute conduct detrimental and will be taken into consideration in making disciplinary determination under this policy. Clubs are also required to report incidents that come to their attention. Assistance Players and employees are encouraged to consult with your Club s Director of Player Engagement or with the NFL s Player Engagement department to obtain access to educational, counseling, and other programs and resources that will help in avoiding misconduct that may result in discipline.
Effective: June 1, 2012
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III. REFERENCES
Associated Press (2013, June 27). Some notable criminal cases involving NFL players, including O.J. The Denver Post. Retrieved from: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23548154/some-notable-criminal-cases-involvingnfl-players-including Barnwell, Bill. (2013, June 25). The Football and Financial Implications of the Patriots Releasing Aaron Hernandez. Grantland. Retrieved from: http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/66991/the-football-and-financialimplications-of-the-patriots-releasing-aaron-hernandez-2 Blumstein, A. Benedict, J. (1999). Criminal violence of NFL players compared to the general population. Chance, 12: 12-15. Candiotti, S. (2013, September 27). Aaron Hernandez associate indicted - CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/26/us/aaron-hernandez-details/ Cannon, A., & Glasser, J. (2000). Murder and the NFL. U.S. News & World Report, 128(6), 30. Carter, B. (2013, July 8). BBC News - Does the NFL have a crime problem? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23179125 Chandler, Rick. (2013, June 26). New Craze Hernandezing, Is Just Wrong. Isnt It? Sports Grid. Retrieved from: http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/new-craze-hernandezing-is-just-wrongisnt-it/ Drape, J. (2013, July 31). Hernandezs Troubles Rose Under N.F.L.s Vigilant Eye - NYTimes.com. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/sports/football/hernandezstroubles-rose-under-nfls-vigilant-eye.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1381947719JICzL+qklKgVw+NdgcQqfg&_r=1& Fogel, C. A. (2012). How Real Were the Cougars? Crime and Deviance in the National Football League. Cross-Cultural Communication, 8(2), 1-6. Forbes (2013, August) New England Patriots. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/teams/new-england-patriots/ Freeman, M. (2013, July 2). Violent crime and the NFL? It's not as simple as some want you to think - CBSSports.com. Retrieved from http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/mikefreeman/22607631/violent-crime-and-the-nfl-its-not-as-simple-as-some-want-you-to-think Gary, B. (2013, September 6). Does the NFL have a broken families problem?. USA Today. Hathaway, Damon (2013, July 11). The Patriots Have a Better Arrest Record Than Most Teams. Retrieved from: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2013/07/11/the-patriotshave-a-better-arrest-record-than-most-nfl-teams Knowles, B. (2013, June 29). Does the NFL Have a Problem With The Law? | XN Sports. Retrieved from http://www.xnsports.com/2013/06/29/nfl-problem-law/ McCann, Michael. (2013, July 1). Can Ex-Patriots star Aaron Hernandez receive a fair trail?. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130701/aaron-hernandez-fairtrial/#ixzz2kkc38thl
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Ozanian, M. (2013, August 14). The Most Valuable NFL Teams - Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2013/08/14/the-most-valuable-nfl-teams/ Rapoport, Ian. (2013, June 21). Examining Aaron Hernandezs New England Patriots Contract. NFL. Retrieved from: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000213873/article/examining-aaronhernandezs-new-england-patriots-contract Rapoport, Ian. (2013, June 21). Why Aaron Hernandez Was Asked To Leave Patriots Facility. Retrieved from: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000213806/printable/why-aaron-hernandezwas-asked-to-leave-patriots-facility Rosenthal, G. (2013, June 28). Aaron Hernandez denied bail; timeline of events - NFL.com. Retrieved from http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000213672/article/aaronhernandez-denied-bail-timeline-of-events Schrotenboer, B. (2013, September 5). NFL arrests persist after turbulent offseason. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/09/04/arrest-aaron-hernandezroger-goodell-dui-assault/2764291/ Solotaroff, P. (2013, August 28). Aaron Hernandez: Patriots Tight End Violent Evolution | Rolling Stone. Retrieved from http://www.rollingstone.com/feature/the-gangster-in-the-huddle . Slifer, Stephanie. ( 2013, June 27). Timeline of Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation. CBS News. Retrieved from: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57591332504083/timeline-of-aaron-hernandez-murder-investigation Thamel, P., Bedard, G., & McCANN, M. (2013). A Murder in Massachusetts. Sports Illustrated, 119(1), 40. Volin, B. (2013, June 21). Teams conduct full background checks on draft prospects - Sports The Boston Globe. Retrieved from http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/06/20/teams-conduct-full-background-checksdraft-prospects/HlT06BNQ6wITWjeeIVw2qK/story.html Westfall, S., Pennington, J., & Truesdell, J. (2013). Aaron Hernandez from NFL star to murder suspect. People, 80(3), 89. Wikipedia. Retrieved October 28, 2013 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Hernandez. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/08/14/hometown-link-double-life-aaronhernandez/JA34t8HVP3srfqakDqHb1K/story.html CITE
https://twitter.com/SI_PeterKing/statuses/349906661969903616 (Sports Illustrated columnist)
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http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/26/experts-say-video-evidence-against-aaronhernandez-could-spell-trouble-for-defense-lawyers/oAnJslr42nBLnHi31ZYqgK/story.html (pic)
Possible source: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/aaron-hernandez-murder-caseevidence/66654/ Map and pics: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2345293/Aaron-Hernandez-New-England-Patriotsstar-partied-murder-victim-Odin-Lloyd.html
http://www.uscollegesearch.org/blog/resource-articles/criminal-justice-info/crime-rates-inpro-sports
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Teaching Note:
Summary Before being arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of frenemy Odin Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez was a Pro Bowl tight end for the New England Patriots. The New England Patriots cut Hernandez from the team on the same day that he was arrested. Were they merely protecting their reputation? For many, a trail of violent activity, drug use and overall bad behavior was more than enough to predict his involvement in the incident. According to police, evidence shows that Lloyd was with Hernandez the night that he was viciously murdered. If that is not sufficient, remaining security footage from Hernandezs home shows him arriving with a gun minutes after people heard shots fired. Hernandez has yet to be convicted for the alleged crimes. The case of Aaron Hernandez and the New England Patriots is exemplary of how quickly a crisis can occur and what the effects can be for both an employee and an organization. Application to the Page Principles The Page Principles apply in the New England Patriots handling of the Aaron Hernandez incident. Although the Patriots did not follow every Page Principle exactly, they maintained a concrete foundation for what to do in a crisis, particularly as a professional sports team.
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THE PAGE PRINCIPLES
Tell the truth. The Patriots told what they knew at the time and decided to act upon that knowledge. In the case of Aaron Hernandez, the truth has yet to be proven. Prove it with action. The Patriots released Hernandez from the team on the day of his arrest. Not only did they prove it with action, but they did so in a timely manner. Listen to the customer. In this case, the customers are the stakeholders. There were fans that supported Hernandez despite the accusations but keeping him on the team was not in the best interest of the organization. Owners and other financial stakeholders must have come to a general consensus to let him go from the organization. Manage for tomorrow. The Patriots organization has only truly addressed the Hernandez incident when they have had to. They had no choice but to move on with their season because there were still 52 other athletes on their roster. Conduct public relations as if the whole company depends on it. This is one area that the Patriots did not Realize a company's true character is expressed by its people. The Patriots can be seen as having done well and not so well in this area. On one hand, they knew that keeping Hernandez on the team would contaminate their image. On the other hand, the Patriots knowingly signed Hernandez, despite his run-ins with the law and his struggle with drugs in the past. Remain calm, patient, and good-humored. AARON, bc IDK
Discussion Questions 1. In terms of communication, how could the Patriots have handled the Aaron Hernandez incident better? 2. If you were the owner of the Patriots, what would you have done
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Effective: June 1, 2012

Effective: June 1, 2012

https://twitter.com/SI_PeterKing/statuses/349906661969903616 (Sports Illustrated columnist)

Possible source: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/06/aaron-hernandez-murder-caseevidence/66654/ Map and pics: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2345293/Aaron-Hernandez-New-England-Patriotsstar-partied-murder-victim-Odin-Lloyd.html

THE PAGE PRINCIPLES

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