Distrust.  It’s a horrible word, especially in a business fans have fallen in love with.

But distrust, about anything and everything, seems to be the key word, emotionally, fans now have about the National Football League.

The on going strife over Commissioner Roger Goodell, the never-ending vote of ‘no confidence’ remains out there nationwide.

The multiple investigations of the Ray Rice assault are underway, but the trust factor of those conducting the probe’s is very high.  The media, and the public, are besmirching the reputation of the lead investigator the NFL hired to conduct the fact or fiction probe of the handling of the Rice investigation.

The union has hired its own investigator to look into the Rice affair, but the common reaction is ‘does the NFLPA have its own agenda’ to clear Rice’s name, reduce the suspension, despite the violence of the act?  That’s what union’s seem to do, get deals cut for the guilty, at least in pro sports.

Few believe the things coming out of the Baltimore Ravens camp, what they knew, when they knew it, how they acted involving their decisions with their own running back.

The trust factor question seems to be everywhere on the NFL road map.

In Carolina, the disgrace that pass rushing star Greg Hardy is getting paid 7M, while on the inactive list, awaiting a trial for felony abuse charges against a woman.

In Minnesota, Ray Rice is collecting 690,000 per week, while sitting out, in the child abuse case, in the beating of his 4-year old child.

The 49ers have never acted against Ray McDonald, he still plays, while the long probe continues now into two possible incidents with his pregnant girlfriend.

And of course, the players’ responsibility is still front and center, in the aftermath of back to back days of incidents with now suspended Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer.

The fans and media reaction to the NFL’s response continues to be colored in a negative light.  Throw money at it, form more committees, your people and my people will meet and discuss it.

Goodell met with 11-just retired players to get their input on the epidemic of abuse.  This is nothing new, it happens every year, the only difference is, the vast media coverage has grown to the point that every  sight wants its own breaking story and angle to report, and now nothing winds up in the shadows.

The commissioner and Union chief DeMaurice Smith met for nearly 4-hours on Friday, finally.

What they need to do is come up with a credible discipline plan immediately.  If you are arrested on an abuse charge, you are removed from the roster, and your pay is withheld until the case is adjudicated.  If you eventually found innocent or charges are dropped or plea bargained, you can get your pay back.  Of course your club has lost your services.  If found guilty, the sanctions become stiffer.

Right now, the player who beats his lady, loses nothing, except snaps on a Sunday.  He has his money, and his contract still.  The two sides need to put a stronger deterrent in place now, so the players know, if you step over the line, this is what happens.  You can probably do the same for drug arrests and Due’s and other assorted incidents the players get themselves involved in.

The NFL has real problems.  They are on the brink of losing corporate sponsorships, their lifeblood, and it takes only one beer company to take a strong public stance about egregious acts, to pull out, and others may follow.

We’re not talking about isolated problems in the league.  Two more player tragedies occurred this past week with Rob Bironis, the longtime kicker, and young linebacker Scott Ross, and those sure look like they are linked to concussions and CTE.  You have HGH testing beginning in a week, and you can expect positive tests in that I bet.  And of course the on going unhappiness over ticket prices, greed and many other issues.

You may enjoy the games Sunday, you love Thursday and Monday night football, but these issues are not going away, they are just set aside for the 3-hours watching the Chargers-Steelers-Patriots etc.

Distrust, it’s a horrible thing to think has happened, but it seems to.  It’s not a good way for the NFL to conduct their business.