Given its prominence in the media, both past and present, a history of domestic violence in the NFL has been well-established. And recent events have stirred the pot once again. The question we need to ask is: What’s being done about the pattern we see?
Recognition without an active response does nothing. In this case, the repeated decision to do nothing has effects that reach far beyond the football field.
Perception Counts For A Lot
According to ESPNW, 45% of the current NFL fan base is female, a fact which should make the league’s actions on domestic violence very important. Recent actions taken against NFL players accused of domestic violence have been perceived as weak by media outlets.
Technically, actions against domestic violence were taken. The perception that NFL officials are “doing nothing” is in the eye of the beholder.
Let’s look at things through the eye of the beholder for a moment. First, there’s Janay Rice, married to Baltimore running back, Ray Rice. Two months ago, he addressed the circumstances surrounding his arrest for assault: He was caught on a surveillance camera in Atlantic City punching his then fiancee in the face. She lost consciousness in a casino elevator. His punishment was a two-game suspension.
Now, let’s consider the case of Redskins tight end Fred Davis. Not long after Rice’s suspension was issued, allegations surfaced that Davis had assaulted his girlfriend, breaking her collarbone. His punishment: a full season’s suspension from the NFL. However, officially, Davis is suspended for a second violation of the league’s substance abuse policy; assault isn’t even mentioned.
Unproportionate sanctions against players for domestic violence is a scary reality inside the NFL, but it perpetuates an even scarier one in society at large.
The $37 Billion Problem
According to the Domestic Violence Hotline, 24 people are abused, assaulted, or under physical threat every minute. It is the third largest cause of homelessness in the United States, and yet the majority of cases go unreported. The estimated cost for victims of abuse comes to $37 billion a year in domestic disturbance calls, job loss, and legal and medical bills. Professor and advocate, Harry Edwards writes, “Domestic violence cuts across ethnic groups and class lines in this country, so is there room for the No. 1 league in this country to do more? Absolutely.”
Change has to start somewhere, why not the NFL?
There’s no excuse for domestic violence, no matter who you are. If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic violence here in Amarillo and the surrounding areas, contact the lawyers at Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C..