On a Wednesday evening in Downtown Los Angeles, a diverse yet intimate group of plant-based and plant-curious individuals gathered in the low-lit event space of the Au Lac Restaurant. They slurped vegan noodle bowls and demolished platters of the restaurant’s fried mushroom specialty, “Octopus”, in anticipation of the evening’s featured guests.

After an hour of mingling, Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan and his wife, Chef Charity Morgan, took their seats in front of the present and Facebook Live audiences. Sure, both looked like supermodels, and yes, it’s not every day you meet a professional NFL player, but the attendees were more interested in the Morgan’s other claim to fame: both are vegan, and they convinced eleven of Derrick’s Titans teammates to eat vegan as well. This couple’s story demonstrates the allure and power of plant-based food, no hardball tactics required.

The Morgans fully transitioned to a plant-based diet about one year ago, after a gradual weaning off animal products. Charity was motivated by a drastic change in her health.

“I lived in hospitals and saw specialists for three months,” Chef Charity explained. Prior to going vegan, she had experienced horrendous headaches and dizzy spells. “If you’re thin and beautiful people think you’re healthy. I got really upset with doctors so I started doing holistic things, like changing my diet. When I started giving up [animal products], I didn’t feel dizzy anymore. I knew there was no going back.”

Charity admitted that the most difficult food for her to release was cheese. However, after retraining herself in plant-based cuisine, she no longer misses it. “Vegans eat every single thing that non-vegans eat; you just have to change the ingredients,” she advised.

For Derrick, who’s approaching thirty, his inspiration to go plant-based was based on the longevity of his athletic career. He took baby steps, first cutting out red meat, then chicken, and eventually fish, eggs, and dairy. Charity supported him every step of the way by providing nutrient-dense, plant-based meals to fuel the never-ending needs of a professional football player. Derrick raved about the benefits of his new diet, “I lost a lot of body fat and inflammation. My cholesterol went down. I felt good in my training, I was able to push through harder sessions, and recover faster.”

As Derrick chowed down on enormous plant-based burgers, his teammates began to take notice. Although typically not one to share food, he let the guys try a bite, and they were hooked. In fact, many who had raised an eyebrow at his new way of eating were the first to sign up for Charity’s catered meals. To date, eleven Titans have signed up for at least some portion of the Morgan’s vegan meal plan. 

For twenty-four weeks, Charity supplied the team with veganized versions of whatever they were craving, from French, to Cajun, to Indian cuisines. She strived to provide nutrition, taste, and variety, though the guys clearly had a few favorites. Burgers, empanadas, and Philly cheese steaks made it into the rotation on a regular basis.

“There’s no sacrifice,” Derrick said. “I let the food stand for itself. ” With all the creative and comforting dishes Charity prepared, it’s no wonder the team got on board. As an added incentive, “The first meal is free,” Charity chimed in.

The Morgan’s story is a powerful one. Derrick did not push his diet onto his teammates, nor did Charity prepare the stereotypical vegan fare, such as quinoa and steamed vegetables. The couple believes in meeting people where they are at. “Don’t speak to their ear,” Charity advised, “Speak to their heart. Ask them what they want.” In essence, listen to others and let the vegan food do the talking. By doing so, there is the power to make a positive impact in the lives of others human beings, animals, and the planet. The Morgans agreed, “We’re making a change. It might be small, but we’re making a change.”

We disagree. Convincing eleven southern, meat-and-potatoes-loving football players to eat vegan? That’s not small. That’s huge.

Thanks to the Morgans, we have developed a new interest in football, and we will be rooting for Derrick next season. In the meantime, we look forward to whipping up recipes from Chef Charity’s blog and stalking her drool-inducing plant-based creations on Instagram. Zucchini Butternut Squash Lasagna, here we come!

Tanya Flink is a vegan, foodie, and certified Master Personal Trainer based in Orange County, CA. She is also the host of the podcast, “The Vegan Potluck.”

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Who knew that Seth Meyers could talk about football and make the speech touching and poignant.

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Deflategate has many NFL fans upset. But what about the rest of the league’s image problems? 

I slept very poorly last night. While I know better than to check Facebook during a bout of insomnia, it’s still one of the most common reactions: One that does nothing to aid sleeplessness. That’s especially true for someone who, like myself, spent many years in Boston, and whose Facebook feed is currently overrun with posts about Deflategate.

It’s hard to ignore, since the topic seems to have engulfed every news outlet, but to review: Deflategate is the newly-coined term used to refer to the recent scandal plaguing the New England Patriots, in which the team (namely, the staff that handles equipment) allegedly deflated footballs before last year’s AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, to make them easier to grip.

WBUR, Boston’s local NPR station, has done a terrific job of accounting for the events.

Earlier this week, the NFL announced that the Patriots will be fined $1 million and that the team’s star quarterback, Tom Brady, is suspended for four games without pay. In any direction, the response has been outrage: Some crying that the punishment is excessive, while others say it’s not nearly harsh enough. I, too, am outraged. But Deflategate? I couldn’t care less about this particular incident.

Here’s the thing: If the Patriots cheated, they should be punished. If Tom Brady was part of it, he should be suspended. In fact, depending on what evidence is actually available, the Patriots could even deserve to be stripped of the team’s most recent Super Bowl title, which came after winning the now-controversial championship game. Yes; that’s coming from a Patriots fan. The NFL’s problems are rooted far deeper than this latest scandal. Deflategate is just the most recent installment in the organization’s widespread encouragement of being able to get away with anything, as long as you’re a professional athlete.

Partially responsible for this phenomenon are the completely blurred parameters of what the NFL, a heralded and nearly deified American institution, constitutes as right, wrong, and culpable. Some interesting statistics have been highlighted as a result of the announcement. BostInno pointed out that Brady’s penalty is double that originally assigned to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, when security camera footage of his assault on his then-fiancee surfaced (prior to his indefinite suspension, which was eventually overturned). Brady’s suspension is also equal to the punishment given to Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for sexual assault.

These statistics, though blood-boiling, barely shed light on the flawed system comprising the NFL. Here we are, over a year since the video of Rice’s violence toward his wife became public, and investigators still have failed to conclude whether or not anyone within the NFL saw the video prior to TMZ’s release of it in February 2014. Yet, after a brief four months, an investigative committee has been able to gather sufficient evidence to conclude that, yes, footballs were deflated prior to a playoff game, and appropriate punitive action shall be taken. Again: Cheating is wrong. If the Patriots cheated, they should be punished. The stark increase of internal outcry over game-related issues, however, over the violently misogynistic actions of certain players, is more than noticeable.

The NFL’s culture of marginalizing women isn’t exactly limited to inadequate punishment of its players, either. In 2013, ESPN correspondent Darren Rovell tweeted that, for its annual breast cancer awareness campaign, the NFL “takes a 25% royalty from the wholesale price (1/2 retail), donates 90% of royalty to American Cancer Society.” The numbers are tricky, and were later elaborated by Business Insider: Essentially, for every $100 of merchandise sold as part of the campaign, $12.50 is labeled as going directly to the NFL, $11.25 of which is then given to the American Cancer Society. That might make it appear as though the NFL is donating 90% of its cut to ACS, but look closer: About 88.75% of the revenue collected is divided between makers and sellers of the merchandise The catch? That seller is typically comprised of the NFL itself, or its different teams.

According to Forbes, the average worth of an NFL team is roughly $1.43 billion. In other words: They don’t need the money. The league, as well as its higher-valued teams (the Patriots, for example, are worth roughly $2.4 billion), can afford to do more. Just a few ideas: Sending medical trucks to underserved regions to provide free mammograms, using the high-profile NFL name to bring women’s health education initiatives into communities and, while they’re at it, educating all youth, everywhere, about anti-violence, and respect.

Hey, Goodell: That’s how you solve a PR crisis.

Sadly, the NFL’s problems don’t end there; Frontline’s “League of Denial” special on resulting concussions from faulty helmets is hardly forgettable. The league can afford to write an annual $4 million paycheck to its quarterbacks, but the funds are lacking to invest in proper safety equipment. What kind of message does that send about human priorities?

The biggest criminal in the entirety of these events, quite possibly, is the NFL Commissioner himself. Roger Goodell is the one in the greatest position of power: The one in the position to say, “Not in my house. We won’t stand for this.” Instead, he’s broadcasting the idea: This isn’t about people. This is about winning a game.

I don’t have children, but I do know that many look up to the NFL and its players as heroes and role models. Of course, it can be argued that ultimately teaching right-versus wrong is a lesson often best left to parents. It is downright reckless, however, for an organization that has become a celebrated household name and national tradition to send the message that winning takes priority over human rights. If it were any other way, adequate funds would be allocated for proper helmets and breast cancer awareness initiatives, and the league would lead proper investigations of all misconduct.

It’s time to fix this gravely flawed machine.

This article originally appears on LinkedIn. Reprinted with permission. 

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Michael Sam—the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and NFL hopeful—announced last week that he is gay. His candor has shaken the football world. If drafted, he would be the first openly gay player in NFL history.

Yes, in case you thought you stepped into that Doritos Super Bowl commercial time machine, this is still 2014. Seventy-five years ago, Michael Sam’s name might have been Jackie Robinson. And yet, today, we’re more comfortable allowing a convicted dog abuser to take the ball than we are with a gay man making tackles.

While Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced that the Justice Department would recognize same-sex couples, regardless of whether or not individual states do, why is it still so awkward for there to be gay men in professional sports?

Despite being an award-winning football player, Sports Illustrated reports that Sam is likely to have a harder time in the NFL—if he makes it at all—based on anonymous sources from the league. “In blunt terms, they project a significant drop in Sam’s draft stock, a publicity circus and an NFL locker room culture not prepared to deal with an openly gay player.”

One source told SI “I don’t think football is ready for [an openly gay player] just yet,” adding that, “In the coming decade or two, it’s going to be acceptable, but at this point in time it’s still a man’s-man game. To call somebody a [gay slur] is still so commonplace. It’d chemically imbalance an NFL locker room and meeting room.”

The official response from the NFL was one of support. John Elway, former quarterback for the Denver Broncos (and Super Bowl XXXIII MVP) and now the executive vice president of football operations for the Broncos, offered kind words of support to Sam. “I applaud Michael Sam and wish him the very best as he continues the pursuit of his NFL dream,” he said. “As we look toward the combine and draft, we will evaluate Michael just like any other draft prospect – on the basis of his ability, character and NFL potential. His announcement will have no effect on how we see him as a football player.” But, an NFL assistant coach called Sam’s decision “not a smart move,” as he said it “legitimately affects [his] potential earnings.”

Even after NBA center Jason Collins shook the sports world last spring by coming out, Sam’s case is clearly being received differently. Collins is a veteran basketball player closer to the end of his career than the beginning. And basketball, even in all its splendor, is no NFL. It’s (quite literally and figuratively) a different ball game. Basketball, we love it, of course. But it’s for the freakishly tall. The scoring is ridiculously uneventful. It loses its power in a way that football doesn’t. Football is for gladiators. They weather extreme weather and the burden of lugging around heavy gear. They go to battle every week in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. These men are our modern warriors. That’s not as glorious as it sounds, though.

And for Sam, a rookie stepping into the intensity of the NFL as the first openly gay man, the situation is notably different. At least it is from the executive perspective. “There are guys in locker rooms that maturity-wise cannot handle it or deal with the thought of that,” an assistant coach told SI. “There’s nothing more sensitive than the heartbeat of the locker room. If you knowingly bring someone in there with that sexual orientation, how are the other guys going to deal with it? It’s going to be a big distraction. That’s the reality. It shouldn’t be, but it will be.”

That attitude is partly because football is, like one anonymous source told SI, still perceived as a “man’s man” kind of game. (Even though this writer is just one of many dedicated and knowledgeable female fans. Go Steelers.) Worshiping those modern warriors comes at a cost. Just watch the Super Bowl and all the inglorious commercials that appeal to machismo and male insecurity. Drive faster cars. Drink better beer. Eat more meat for god’s sake, you’re a man! For the gay or straight viewer, the culture that surrounds football does more to defeat a man’s confidence than to boost it up. Everything about football, except for the game itself, tells men they’re not good enough. The last thing those men can handle is someone on the field making them consider their own sexuality—whether they’re gay or not. Nor do they want to have to consider the sexual preference of their friends, brothers, fathers, sons.

Why? Because even though we shame Russia for Sochi’s ridiculous attitude towards gay people, we allow our culture to do the same. We’re happy to “tolerate” or “accept” gayness as long as it occurs outside of the places we seek sanctuary. And football, for some men (certainly not all), is probably the only place where they feel comfortable touching another man—whether that’s a tackle on the field or a high-five at the bar watching it happen. That’s not a fault of football. Or gay men. It’s a deep-rooted problem in our culture that needs to go away. Men—like women, like gay men, like transgender people—are humans first. They’re flesh, blood, and everything that holds us together. Who we love doesn’t matter nearly as much as why we love. It’s just what humans do. We can’t explain it, so why do we judge it?

When Jackie Robinson stepped out onto the baseball field as the first black man in the major leagues, true Dodgers fans eventually came to see him as just a player, because a “black player” was proven irrelevant. As a fan, there was simply no logic, no statistic that factored in the color of his skin. All that could be measured was whether he was good or bad at the game. And once his talent became obvious, despite the decades of segregation in sports, Robinson’s achievements stood on their own. And then they rewrote history.

So perhaps the coaches and executive personnel who spoke with Sports Illustrated have it wrong. And perhaps it’s why they hid their opinions anonymously. After all, today’s young NFL players, they’re coming to the game from respectable universities where diversity—in race and sexual preferences—is widely varied, and has been for decades. That’s maybe not the case for some of the coaches and administrative staff who still believe it’s a “man’s man” sport. But, just like the Super Bowl commercials this year failed to impress most viewers, perhaps old views about what constitutes a qualified player fail to serve the league too. Maybe the locker room culture actually isn’t that insecure. Maybe the fans aren’t either.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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