NFL Domestic Violence Op-Ed

The Problem with Domestic Violence in the NFL

Domestic violence is defined as “the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another,” by Merriam-Webster dictionary. However, it can take on many different forms. In the past few months, it has been an issue that is closely associated to the National Football League (NFL). Repeat arrests for the offense have sparked comments from governors to large, corporate establishments. This is clearly a problem at needs to be confronted head on.

Domestic violence has always found its way into the NFL. In a recent study published by Benjamin Moore of the critically acclaimed statistics website Five Thirty Eight, it was found that domestic violence accounts for 48% of arrests for violent crimes within the NFL. The number for the average American male (25-29 years old) is 21%. These numbers indicate a pattern that is quite disturbing and troubling, and in dire need of fixing. The only way to do that is do harshen the punishments, and for teams to take more aggressive stances.

The recent string of arrests, and more importantly, the punishments that have followed, have been eye opening and have caused the NFL as a league, and the individuals who run it, to come under fire.

Ray Rice, running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was arrested on February 15 on the charge of aggravated assault for brutally punching his wife in an elevator, rendering her unconscious. (Search video at your own discretion). His suspension was at first, announced as a measly two games on July 25. However, celebrity news website TMZ leaked a video of the assault online, and started a great backlash. The video depicted him slugged his then-fiance (now wife) in the face after a heated argument, knocking her unconscious. Rice then proceeds to drag her out of the elevator, and tries to resolve the situation privately. After the leak, Rice was released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely from the NFL.

Greg Hardy, defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers, was convicted on June 15 for assaulting a female and communicating threats. He allegedly threw his girlfriend down on a couch full of guns, and threatened to kill her. There was no action taken by the Panthers, and he was allowed to play in the first game of the 2014 season on September 7.. However, after the Ray Rice media bonanza, Hardy was put on the exempt list on September 17, which removes him from team activity, but still pays his salary of $13.2 million.

Adrian Peterson is a star running back for the Minnesota Vikings. He won the Most Valuable Player award in 2012, and was en route to having a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On September 12, Peterson was indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child. He admitted to beating his four year old son with a switch. TMZ also posted pictures of his young son’s injuries (photos are very graphic). The Vikings immediately suspended him for one game, but brought him back after a loss. There was much outrage about this decision, as even the governor of Minnesota criticized the decision. Due to the outrage, the Vikings put him on the exempt list, which removes him from all team activity while he still earns a hefty salary of $11.25 million.

All of these cases have one frightening thing in common: they were all swayed by the court of public opinion. The NFL cannot be taken seriously if this trend continues to occur. Ray Rice was not cut until the video of the assault was made public, Greg Hardy was not suspended until Ray Rice was cut, and Adrian Peterson had to be re-suspended by his team after the Vikings organization came under strong criticism for their leniency in the handling of the case.

The only thing that can help this outbreak is strongly enforced punishments for domestic violence. It is true positive strides have been made in the last month in the matter, as a harsher policy on domestic violence was put in place on August 28, outlining a six game suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second. Within the past week, a committee of four women were hired by the NFL to have input in cases like these. However, the proactiveness of the NFL is very suspect, as a grand total of zero players have been suspended for the six game punishment, even though multiple players have been arrested for domestic violence since the new policy as come into effect. The NFL needs to stand strong in the face of adversity. They need to act now before this blows up even more.

Documentation of Assaults (Extremely Graphic)

Adrian Peterson’s son’s photos: http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/12/adrian-peterson-indicted-for-child-abuse/

Ray Rice assault video: http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video/