What is going on with the NFL lately? It seems like every week a new football player is caught in a new scandal. The most recent ones are former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was cut form the team and suspended indefinitely from the NFL for domestic violence, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges and North Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was found guilty early this year for assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend.
Ray Rice has not only lost his career, but has become the poster child for misconduct and domestic violence in the NFL. This incident was not the first one to occur in the NFL, but it was the first one that was caught on video and plastered all over social media and television. The outrage that this footage caused was only made worse considering that this domestic violence incident was so called “dealt with,” when Rice received a two-game suspension for this offense. It was not until the video footage surfaced that he met a more permanent fate with the NFL.
What was the NFL trying to convey with the Ray Rice issue? It’s okay to assault your wife as long as you don’t get caught on tape? There should be stricter NFL policies and all the players should be held up to higher standards. After all, these players are a reflection of the NFL as an entity. Right now, the NFL is picking up the pieces and trying to clean up their image. Maybe these football players should not be getting over paid since most think they are above the law and that money will save them. I have never agreed with the ridiculous amount of money that is thrown at these athletes, yet our soldiers and war veterans who put their life on the line for our freedom get paid next to nothing compared to the millions these athletes make.
In the case of Peterson, we have to understand the difference between spanking and beating, because they are two entirely different things. A spanking is used to correct an undesired action and does not contain anger or ill will, it is meant to teach a child a lesson. A beating on the other hand is done with ill will and uncontrollable anger behind it, and it is not meant to teach but to cause harm and often leaves visible bruises.
What is even worse is that he utterly believes that he did nothing wrong, to him this form of punishment is normal as he too was also beat as a child. Peterson said “To be honest with you, I fell very confident with my actions because I know my intent.” What? Your intent was to physical harm your child and beat him senseless with an object until he bled, not to teach him a lesson. I do not condone child abuse, but I do believe that spanking your kids is a good way to discipline your child to a certain extent. Once you start leaving marks, you have gone too far. He has since apologized, but I truly believe he only did it because he was told to, and not because he means it.
As for Hardy, he could face a 6-game suspension if his guilty verdict for domestic violence is not overturned on appeal.  NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell received major criticisms for the disciplinary decision he made in the Rice case, and he even admitted that he screwed up and wrongly handled the incident. In late August, the NFL released a domestic violence initiative under its personal conduct policy. For the first domestic violence offense athletes face a 6-game ban, and the second offense is a lifetime ban, but of course after one year the athlete may petition for reinstatement. Even though there is no assurance it will be granted, the fact that there is still a possibility for them to play is not a lifetime ban to me.
What the NFL should do is follow through with the policies they implement and not allow the athletes a third chance because two is enough. Like the grown men they are, they should take responsibility for their actions. They should leave the hitting on the field and not hurt their loved ones whom they are supposed to love and protect.