In recent weeks, the NFL has gone through, and continues to go through, arguably the darkest and most volatile period of its existence, with multiple high-profile players being charged with domestic violence.
Up until now, the NFL has been for the most part, a very respectable and valued league for the American public, but now its reputation is being tainted. When the news of Baltimore Ravens’ star running-back Ray Rice beating his wife came out last July, Rice was given a meager two-game suspension by league commissioner Roger Goodell. At that time, Goodell’s decision of two games was widely criticized as being too soft of a punishment. However, on Sept. 8, Rice was suspended indefinitely from the NFL.
The reasoning for the enhanced suspension was the video released by TMZ of Rice striking and knocking out his fiance, Janay Palmer, in an elevator. Both the Ravens and Goodell quickly acted upon the video by letting Rice go and terminating all his relations with Baltimore. The question is, why was this video just released months after the incident occurred?
“We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator. That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today,” the league said in its statement early last month, shortly after the video was made public.
It was at this point that people started to question Goodell and the NFL: How could TMZ have the video of this gruesome act, but the National Football League did not? However, Rice is not the only player of late to be accused of acts of violence. Others, such as Minnesota Vikings Running back Adrian Peterson, who was accused of child abuse, are being discovered now, too. The question begs to be asked: Is the rapid rise in social media to blame for these incidents being more often publicly visible?
“There probably have been issues in the past, but with social media or the access of cameras in elevators, some things might show up more frequently than they did in the past. It’s hard to say whether or not there’s been a rise in domestic violence recently, however,” stated Libertyville High School Athletic Director Mr. Briant Kelly.
With much focus being directed towards Goodell and how he’s handled or not handled the issues at hand, specific teams and coaches, such as Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, are not receiving as much pressure on the issue of Rice.
“ I think they (coaches and teams) need to take some responsibility in educating pro athletes. A lot of pro athletes don’t come out of college as well educated as they should be on everyday things like how to manage money and social abilities,” Mr. Kelly said.
In sports, so many young fans try to emulate their favorite players. Although professional athletes are always expected to behave and represent the league in a positive fashion, should they be role models? Junior and Wildcat football player Nick Schurr believes it can go both ways.
“In the NFL, certain players who give back to the community and have never been in trouble should be looked up to, but players who are dealing with domestic violence and other issues should not be,” he said.
On Thursday, Sept. 28, Roger Goodell announced his brand-new policy on domestic violence. The punishments are now much clearer and harsher, being that he was under fire from the league for his poor enforcement. For a player’s first offense with domestic violence, he will receive a six-game ban without pay, and if that player commits a second crime of domestic violence, he will be banned from the league for life.
This new policy applies to all personnel of the NFL, too. While Goodell willingly admitted that he “didn’t get it right,” in Rice’s case, he and everyone hope to see a decline in domestic violence.
