Character Counts ...

IT WAS a year ago this week that commissioner Roger Goodell, concerned about the number of NFL players in trouble with the law, instituted a stringent personal-conduct policy. Last season Titans cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones was suspended for the year after his sixth arrest, and Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson received an eight-game ban. Last month the Steelers released backup wide receiver Cedrick Wilson after he was arrested for allegedly striking a former girlfriend. And last week the Bengals waived talented wide receiver Chris Henry after he was accused of punching an 18-year-old man and breaking his car window. It was Henry's fifth arrest since 2005.

But though the system may seem to be working, teams still send mixed messages about how much they will tolerate. The Steelers, for example, took no action against star linebacker James Harrison, who last month was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. (The charges were dropped last Thursday.) And the Cowboys, who signed Johnson last year, are trying to complete a trade for Jones, whom they reportedly took off their draft board in 2005 because of concerns about his character.

In short, teams seem to pick their spots depending on their personnel needs. For example, Pittsburgh chairman Dan Rooney was forced to clumsily explain why one alleged girlfriend assaulter was worthy of keeping while another was expendable. Could it be that Harrison was a Pro Bowler last season, while Wilson was a career reserve? "When I say we don't condone these things, we don't," said Rooney. "But ... they're not all the same."

Goodell's crackdown may be felt most on draft day. Last year Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas was considered a first-round talent, but he fell to the fourth round because he was kicked off the team at Florida after failing multiple drug tests. (Last month he was arrested on suspicion of possession after police found cocaine in a car in which he was the passenger.) Scouts say this year that Oklahoma State wideout Adarius Bowman, a projected mid-round pick, may drop to the late rounds after his arrest for marijuana possession on April 1. On the anniversary of Goodell's conduct crackdown, teams must balance their search for talent with a desire for players who won't test the tougher policy.