Staff Writer
Anybody
who watches the news has undoubtedly heard about Ray Rice’s domestic abuse
scandal. While in an elevator in an Atlantic City casino, NFL running back Ray
Rice punched his fiancée in the head, knocking her unconscious, and then
proceeded to drag her limp body out of the elevator. Rice initially received a
two-game suspension after admitting to the act, and was later suspended
indefinitely after a video from the elevator’s camera was released. It’s easy to believe that the NFL practiced
good policy by suspending Rice indefinitely. Taking a closer look, however, it
is apparent the NFL does little to enforce moral behavior among its players.
After
he admitted to knocking his girlfriend out and dragging her out of the
elevator, Rice was given a two-game suspension. It wasn’t until graphic footage
of the crime was released to the public that additional measures were even
considered. Shortly after the video was released, Rice was suspended indefinitely.
It’s obvious that the NFL had only one reason to respond to domestic violence:
customer retention.
This
is how less publicized examples of domestic violence in the NFL go relatively
unpunished. Take the case of Rod Smith, a wide receiver for the Broncos during
the 2000 season, for example. Smith was accused of beating his wife by throwing
her around, beating her head on the ground, and choking her. The NFL did not
suspend Smith, and threatened to fine him only if he did not attend court-mandated
counseling.
The
cases of Ray Rice and Rod Smith represent only two of many incidents when it
comes to domestic abuse in the NFL. Domestic abuse accounts for 12% of all
criminal charges for NFL athletes. Many of these cases are swept quickly out of
public view, and the majority of offenders get off with little more than a mild
reprimand.
Don’t
let the Ray Rice scandal confuse you, with 83 athletes arrested for the offense
since 2000, domestic violence is a growing problem in the NFL. Football is one
of the great American pastimes, and many kids spend their childhood idolizing
athletes. These children don’t need to be brought up believing that attacking a
life partner is a minor offense. The NFL has a responsibility to portray the
true severity of a domestic violence charge to the public, a responsibility it
has betrayed.
