Did NFL commissioner Roger Goodell cross the line when he helped New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan deal with troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes?

In his new book, Play Like You Mean It, which was published on May 3, Ryan explains how he contacted Goodell shortly after the Jets traded for Holmes in April 2010 in the hopes that the commissioner could help Holmes obtain a better public image following his numerous off-field incidents. Goodell complied and stopped by Jets headquarters to meet with Ryan and Holmes after a mini-camp practice, according to The Boston Globe.

But this is where the story becomes cloudy.

According to Ryan’s book, the coach asked Goodell to berate him in front of Holmes for his own off-field incidents — namely Ryan’s obscene gesture at an MMA event that made tabloid rounds — to make an example of him.

Ryan then had Goodell berate Holmes for his off-field trouble — which included a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and a pending lawsuit stemming from an incident in which Holmes allegedly assaulted a woman at an Orlando nightclub.

The ploy by Ryan was to show Holmes that the two had similar off-field problems and needed each other going forward.

Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe said that Goodell’s assistance in helping Ryan and Holmes bond goes too far.

“The ability to interact with your players, and to get them to play at the top of their ability, is as much a part of a coach’s skill set as drawing up a game plan,” explains Bedard. “Would Goodell ever give Ryan tips on how to defend Tom Brady? Of course not. So he shouldn’t be lending a hand in his relationships with his players.”

At the NFL owners meeting in Indianapolis last week, Goodell was asked whether Ryan’s description of the conversation was accurate. The commissioner seemed to shrug off criticism of any wrongdoing.

“I don’t look at it that way,” Goodell said. “I look at is as I was asked to try to help a young man who I like very much, and we’re going to continue to try to do whatever we can to make sure that he’s in the best position to continue his career and do the right things on and off the field.”

Bedard doesn’t see it that way, and questions if the Jets’ location in New York allowed for Ryan to reach out to Goodell for special help.

“Would Goodell have been as willing to travel all the way to Seattle for a 20-minute meeting to help Seahawks coach Pete Carroll forge a bond with running back Marshawn Lynch?” asks Bedard. “Would Goodell be willing to do such a thing for all 32 teams? If the answer to either question is “no” or even “maybe,” then Goodell shouldn’t have done it for the Jets. It sets a terrible precedent.”

So what do you think? Did Goodell overstep his boundaries in helping Rex Ryan? Leave your opinions in the comment section below.

Read More: Randy Moss (WR – TEN), New York Jets

Randy Moss remains little more than a league-wide rumor so long as the NFL Lockout is in place, but after plenty of comments from the league’s players and coaches we can add one from the other side of the lockout picket line—New York Jets owner Woody Johnson says Moss “has the God-Given talent to be a superstar”, among other mostly laudatory things, although he stops short of saying anything that could get the NFLPA on his case.

The Jets have long been a suspected target for the mercurial wide receiver, but this is the first time someone with the pursestrings in hand has made a comment about him. 

Moss caught 28 balls in 2010 for 393 yards between three teams in the worst season of his 13-year career. It might be meaningful that none of the teams he played for that year have any desire to see him return, but given his 153 career receiving touchdowns it’s likely that someone will be taking a flyer on him once the lockout is finally resolved. 

NEW YORK (AP)—Braylon Edwards(notes) has made good on a promise he made a few
years ago by sending 100 Cleveland-area students to college.

The New York Jets wide receiver tweeted Thursday that “as the 2nd most
hated man in Clev & a man of my word,” he was honoring his commitment to pay
for the students’ college tuitions if they reached certain academic goals.

Edwards is giving about $1 million to the students from the ADVANCE 100
program, established by the receiver’s foundation while he was playing in
Cleveland.

“Guys, enjoy and embrace your new beginnings,” Edwards tweeted, “and
remember your promise to me, to reach back & help someone else along the way.”

Edwards is scheduled to be a free agent, but says he wants to stay with the
Jets.

Read More: Randy Moss (WR – TEN), New York Jets

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum refused to address Randy Moss to the Jets rumors on Thursday during an appearance on ESPN 101 in St.Louis with Zach and the Coach (Rick Venturi).

“Obviously I can’t address any specific rumor. Again our goal is to try to keep as many players together. We’re fortunate. We have a great owner in Mr.Johnson and a great partner with Rex Ryan. The three of us kick around scenarios all the time and always come out and let’s make the best decision for the Jets. We’ll see who we are able to keep when there is a new agreement down the road in terms of who we will have rights to and who we won’t and then we’ll go from there and try to make the best decisions.”

Sports Radio Interviews has the full transcript of Tannenbaum’s remarks. The GM also addressed the development of quarterback Mark Sanchez and the portrayal of coach Rex Ryan on ‘Hard Knocks.’