N.F.L. officials expect fewer teams to take large leaps of faith with troubled players, as has happened regularly in the past.

The National Football League, like all professional sports, has always had its share of troubled, even criminally violent players.

In 1995, it was Vernon Maxwell, a talented but troubled player, an Artest of his time.

Those troubled young players never did learn to motivate themselves.

The resulting ideas have ranged from strengthening current violent crime policies to instituting a waiting period for troubled collegiate players before they can join the league.

The Raiders have long enjoyed great success with taking troubled but talented players and watching them blossom.

The Rangers' youngest and most troubled player seemed content.

It may have been too much for a troubled young player.

Brown has a reputation for giving troubled players second chances, and he gave Henry more than two.

Now, it's not the focus of the media on troubled players.