As difficult as it is to assemble a great team in the NFL, it's pretty easy to implode one. Selfishness, distractions, disobedience, and behind-the-scenes shenanigans have all conspired to sabotage more seasons than Tony Romo's on-field decisions.
In light of the bullying scandal currently engulfing the Miami Dolphins, here are 10 bad behaviors that can blow up a team--and the life lessons you can learn from each gridiron gaffe.
1. Harassment
The scandal: Hazing has always existed in the NFL, but Dolphins lineman Richie Incognito allegedly took it to a new level when his graphic and racially insensitive bullying of teammate Jonathan Martin was exposed earlier this month. Incognito was suspended by the Dolphins shortly after the news broke, but the controversy--and an investigation into what actually happened--is just getting started.
The lesson: A bully's actions can hurt everyone, not just the target of harassment. A 2007 report in the Journal of Management Studies found that employees who witnessed bullying suffered secondary harm, while reporting higher levels of stress and lower levels of work satisfaction.
2. Distraction
The scandal: Some think he's a football messiah, others think he's overrated, and the New York Jets thought he could be a weapon. But all Tim Tebow turned out to be was a distraction. The Jets traded for the polarizing QB in 2012 in hopes he could push the incumbent Mark Sanchez, run the Wildcat offense, and earn the team some extra attention. They had no idea what they were in for.
"It was a nonstop, never-ending distraction that other players got tired of," says ESPN New York reporter Rich Cimini, who covered the team. "It just highlighted the dysfunction of the Jets organization on so many levels."
The lesson: Distractions are productivity killers and your challenge is usually less exotic than a charismatic-but-ill-fitting team member. Like lack of sleep. Dutch researcher Harm Veling proved that while our brains can easily combat distractions in order to complete assigned tasks, that ability is compromised when we're tired. Mentally fatigued participants in Veling's study were unable to suppress distractions, and as a result, their performance suffered. Try to get at least 7 hours. (For what it's worth, the Jets finished 6-10 last season.)
3. Selfishness
The scandal: Terrell Owens' time in Philadelphia was as brief as it was bewildering. In 2004, he was a critical addition to a team that reached the Super Bowl before losing to Tom Brady's Patriots. Then, things went south. The hotheaded wide receiver was suspended for jawing with then-coach Andy Reid in the next training camp. Later in the season, the Eagles sent him home for good after he made disparaging comments to the media about the team and the competency of quarterback Donovan McNabb. The defending NFC champs stumbled to a losing record and missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
"Well, it was a sideshow that gained extraordinary media coverage, and Owens made it his focal point to tear down the image and leadership of McNabb," says Les Bowen, longtime beat reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News. "He felt McNabb declined to help him in his quest to get his contract renegotiated. There were players who were loyal to McNabb and the organization who saw through what T.O. was trying to do," Bowen says. "But there were others who saw only that Owens was an incredibly dominant player, and felt the team should just put up with whatever he did, to keep alive the chance of returning to the Super Bowl."
The lesson: If your teammates can't depend on you, you've got no future. A Stevens Institute of Technology study found that team members who shared information and felt accountable for decisions they had reached together were largely able to control conflict. Huddle up before your problem gets out of hand.
4. Corruption
The scandal: In 1998, Eddie DeBartolo, who owned the San Francisco 49ers, was convicted for failing to report extortion relating to a Louisiana casino project. That earned him a 1-year suspension from the NFL, a $1 million fine from Uncle Sam, and a decade of futility for one of the NFL's most successful franchises. DeBartolo sold the team two years later.
The lesson: Power can cloud your judgment. In a 2012 study from the University of Southern California, researchers found that the more responsibility and influence people had, the more prone they were to making overconfident decisions. The most effective deciders are those who surround themselves with people who challenge their judgment, the study found.
5. Depravity
The scandal: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came down hard on the New Orleans Saints in 2012 after it was revealed players had received cash payments for injuring opponents. "Bountygate" saw head coach Sean Payton, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and a number of key defensive players all earn suspensions as the Saints missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
The lesson: Unethical behavior usually starts at the top. The 2005 book Managing Organizational Deviance found that leaders heavily influence the ethical decisions of their employees, including wielding control over rewards and punishments. Follow in the bigwig's footsteps with caution.
6. Division
The scandal: This fall, things quickly soured between Greg Schiano, head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and quarterback Josh Freeman. Barely a month into their second season together, Schiano benched the QB because of poor play--and two weeks later, the Bucs cut Freeman. The NFL Players Association has alleged that Schiano, in an effort to discredit Freeman's reputation, leaked confidential medical information about the quarterback. Schiano says he wasn't behind the leak, but the disastrous Bucs have yet to win a game this season.
"There's a lot of blame to go around in Tampa Bay," says NFL Network's National Insider, Ian Rapoport. "It was difficult for Schiano to sell his demanding ways in a veteran locker room, and Freeman helped torpedo the season with his poor play. When Freeman's medical information was leaked, and Schiano was blamed without evidence, the divide became too great. The relationship, and the season, was over."
The lesson: Teams are fragile things. University of Washington researchers found a single "toxic" team member can drive an organization into the dump. According to the study, trust amongst team members declines rapidly as the positive culture disappears. It doesn't take long for teammates to completely disengage and turn a promising season into a lost one.
7. Chicanery
The scandal: When a gambling scandal threatened the integrity of the league in the 1960s, former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle acted swiftly and harshly. Rozelle banned Green Bay Packers star Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions All-Pro Alex Karras for the entire 1963 season after he learned the players wagered on games. The Packers did not reach a third straight NFL championship game.
The lesson: Tough decisions are often easier for the big men in charge. Research from USC found that powerful people interpret bad behavior with far less ambiguity than those lacking the same power. The higher the stakes, the more you stand to lose. Think about how the boss would see the issue, and avoid behaviors you know cross the line.
8. Disobedience
The scandal: No team fought the law like the 2006 Cincinnati Bengals. During the offseason and regular season, nine different members of the squad were arrested. After a stellar 2005 campaign, the Bengals missed the playoffs in ‘06--but found a home in the police blotter.
The lesson: Consider someone's track record before their camaraderie in building your team. A study in the American Sociological Review found that employers often focus on hiring people they would socialize with rather than bringing aboard the best person for the job. The Bengals could have screened their players more closely--and so should you.
9. Disloyalty
The scandal: Tom Landry spent 29 seasons as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, winning five NFC Championship games and two Super Bowls. But when Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989 and decided it was time for a change, the man who took Dallas to the next level was unceremoniously shown the door. It was an unpopular move that cast a pall on the franchise--before it captured three Super Bowls, starting 6 years later.
The lesson: Listen to your gut. Researchers at the University of Rochester believe that contrary to previous beliefs, your unconscious brain makes the best decisions. People tend to put percentages on how likely their choices will have a positive outcome, and the study found the brain is naturally programmed to calculate these complex computations with the given information. Struggling with a big decision? Chances are you already have the answer.
10. Hubris
The scandal: Bill Belichick built a dynasty with the New England Patriots. But his image, and his team's, took a hit with "Spygate." The head coach was fined $500,000 and the Patriots were docked $250,000--plus the loss of their first-round draft pick--after it was revealed that Belichick authorized an illegal videotaping operation during a game against the Jets in 2007.
The lesson: Success can increase the probability of bad behavior. A Michigan State University study revealed that unrealistically high pressure on a successful company increased the chances it would engage in illegal behavior. The same can easily be applied to you: Avoid the temptation of cutting corners to maintain success.
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