Domestic Violence Cases In The NFL

Domestic violence has been an on going issue in the NFL recently. Cases of domestic violence in the NFL have made numerous headlines through out the nation. When the surveillance video released showing Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice "punching his then fiancée in a hotel elevator" as, stated in this commentary  has taken a toll on how the NFL responds to domestic violence committed by their players. Originally Ray Rice was given “a two-game suspension in August” the public viewed this punishment that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed Ray Rice to be way too lenient. Goodell’s “original punishment led him to institute a new league-wide domestic violence and sexual assault policy before the season began.” This new policy that is being installed is a form of “a lighter punishment” than the one Rice is currently receiving. Just after the Ray rice incident there as been two other NFL players who have been arrested on domestic violence charges this year, named Greg Hardy who plays for the Carolina Panthers defensive end and Ray McDonald who plays for the San Francisco 49ers and his position is defensive end tackle. Hardy was arrested on May 13^th with two-charges of assault on a women and communicating threats. In both of these misdemeanors Hardy pleaded not guilty, but in July “a judge found Hardy guilty on both counts.” The judge gave Hardy a 60-day suspension sentence and 18 months of probation. “Hardy’s sentence is currently on hold while he appeals for a jury trial.” The Panthers have stated that after Hardy’s conviction they would “respect the legal process.” Hardy is still currently playing for the Carolina Panthers. McDonald was arrested on felony suspicion of domestic abuse on September 1^st. McDonald was the 1^st NFL player arrested on domestic violence charges after the NFL announced it’s new policy. The 49ers CEO Jed York states “I wont make any punishments until I see evidence.” It will be pretty interesting to see how the NFL will act towars these two cases. Goodell’s new domestic policy is a six-game punishment for the first offense, and an indefinite suspension for the second. But this clearly shows that Goodell will make this policy work however he wants due to the fact that this was Ray Rices first offence and he automaticallt got the indefinite suspension. I agree with Travis Waldron 100% on this commentary written by him. He states that “suspensions could depend largely on how bad the public perception of each individual case is.”