Initially suspending Ray Rice for two days was possibly the worst mistake Roger Goodell made.
After the video from TMZ surfaced that horrifically showed Ray Rice beating his fiancé (now wife) in an elevator, the NFL has been under attack. It is unclear what caused the one-sided fight to ensue, however, the NFL barely punished Rice, giving him a lesser suspension than a footballer player who tests positive for Marijuana (now legalized in the great state of Colorado and Washington) would otherwise receive.
The NFL is attempting to have a new "domestic violence policy" in play. Whether the policy is meant to keep the players in check or prevent further controversy to the NFL, we shall see.
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ReplyDeleteThe NFL’s implementation of its new domestic violence policy is surely more about trying to protect its public image now and in the future that it is about preventing domestic violence. However, regardless of the NFL’s motivation the benefit to society is what truly matters. Hopefully, these stricter standards will deter instances of domestic violence by NFL players in the future. More importantly than that though is the light this has shined on a problem in our society that goes beyond the NFL. All sports organizations should follow suit and learn from the NFL’s mistakes. The NFL’s failures will hopefully cause all sports organizations to take a closer look internally at their policies, particularly regarding domestic violence. Here are the key points of the NFL’s initiative:
ReplyDelete• Policy applies to all incidents involving physical force, not just domestic violence
• Six-game suspension for first offense (could be longer under certain circumstances)
• Lifetime ban for second offense (can apply for reinstatement after one year)
• Policy applies to all NFL personnel, not just players
• Policy is not retroactive; everyone starts with clean slate
• Those identified as "at risk" for committing offenses offered counseling; refusal could affect future discipline
• Confidential counseling offered to all personnel and families
http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11425377/nfl-implements-domestic-violence-penalties