Case Study: Mayer V. Belichick

Case Study: Mayer V. Belichick Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Professor Date Case Study: Mayer V. Belichick 1 What is the ethical dilemma or dilemmas posed in this case study? Based on the case study, the ethical dilemma revolves around the actions of the New England Patriots and their head coach. The Plaintiff, Mayer filed a complaint accusing the defendant of the Patriots and the team coach, Belichick and the defendant the National Football League (NFL) of surreptitiously videotaping the signals of their opponents (Findlaw, 2017). This happened during the game against the New York Jets. Such actions raise questions of fair play, integrity, and compliance with league rules and regulations. For instance, their actions violate the NFL integrity of game clause, which necessitates that players need to exhibit fair play while playing the game by assisting in the honest and orderly conduct of the games in the NFL (PPT, slide 8, n.d.). 2 What should the goal of the sports management professional be when first addressing the problem? While addressing the problem in this case, the goal of the sports management professional is complex. However, the main aim should be to emphasize preserving the integrity of the sport and ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations provided by the governing body, the NFL (Findlaw, 2017). Therefore, sports management professionals should investigate the extent of the violation of the rule by the defendants following NFL procedures and define the correct disciplinary acts, if necessary. Moreover, it is important to reflect on the effect on fair competition and the trust on fans, since preserving the fairness and authenticity of the game is crucial to its long-term success and sustainability. Additionally, their goal should emphasize establishing transparency and accountability in the league, demonstrating a dedication to ethical standards and the principles of sportsmanship. 3 What is the best ethical model to use to approach the ethical situation posed? Based on the case, the nature of ethical issues is complex, necessitating a comprehensive approach that incorporates various ethical models to address the issues. Therefore, the most suitable ethical model would be combining consequentialist and deontological ethical models in the case. The consequentialist model judges whether or not something is right based on its consequences. The model evaluates the consequences of actions, weighing the possible advantages and harms to involved parties, in this case, the fans, players, and the integrity of the sport (Roby, 2018). However, the deontological model stresses compliance with the rules of the game, duties, and principles, which is important to preserve the credibility of the sport and maintain the standards approved by the governing bodies, such as the NFL (Roby, 2018). Therefore, applying the two models will ensure that decision-makers assess the moral implications of the defendant’s actions while reflecting on their obligations to the league, fans, and other affected shareholders. 4 As a sports management professional, what other information would you need to have to make an ethical decision? Various information and reflection on specific rules would be essential to making an ethical decision in this case. For instance, I would collect more information about the exact NFL rules and regulations violated by the defendants. Such comprehensive facts would be crucial to comprehend the extent of the breach and its impact on fair play and sportsmanship. Moreover, reflecting on the idea...