Tuesday 16 September 2014 14:25, UK
It’s been a tough last week for the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell in particular, with the off-field behaviour of players coming under the microscope – but with perhaps how he and his league have been dealing with them attracting even more attention.
In the wake of Ray Rice being released by the Baltimore Ravens and banned indefinitely by the NFL, Goodell has now hired three female consultants to assist the league in dealing with issues relating to domestic violence and sexual assault.
Adrian Peterson, one of the biggest stars in the league, is facing child abuse charges for beating his son with a branch, but after missing just one game his team, the Minnesota Vikings, will allow him to play again this week while they let the legal process take its course.
Goodell originally only gave Rice a two-game ban after the player escaped jail time by entering a pre-trial program, and the Ravens gave him no sanctions. That all changed when a video was released showing the player hitting his now-wife and knocking her unconsciousness – and the outrage that followed forced further action.
The commissioner has admitted he handled the situation badly, and has since increased domestic violence bans to six games for a first offence, but many are calling for a zero tolerance policy for such behaviour – given the standing millionaire NFL players have as role models in America’s most popular sport.
While Rice has hit the headlines, a more disturbing case going slightly under the radar is of another player, Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers, who has already been found guilty of domestic violence against his former girlfriend by a Carolina judge but is appealing that decision – with a jury trial set for November.
Hardy, one of the best defensive players around, was convicted back in May but, because of him appealing the decision, has faced no NFL or team action and, in fact, played for the Panthers in the opening game of the season.
The 25-year-old was finally taken out of the team for last Sunday by Carolina, but is still collecting his $13.1 million yearly salary despite officially being found guilty of domestic violence. An appeal may change that but that’s how it stands currently.
Just to add to the mix, San Francisco 49ers lineman Ray McDonald is currently still able to play for his team despite being out on bail following charges of domestic abuse being brought against him.
Throw in Rice being set to appeal against his indefinite ban for being punished twice following Goodell’s own mistake, and you have more than a few headaches for the man in charge of the $9 billion league to deal with.
It seems obvious to say now, but the NFL has clearly not had a set of guidelines in place to punish players for acts of domestic violence, and the scattergun approach from both the commissioner and the teams involved is a major factor in the criticism which could even threaten Goodell’s job.
Sceptics will say the teams will always look after their own interests – as any business does – and it’s unlikely we’d see a fifth-choice receiver or special teams journeyman being allowed to play in the way Peterson, McDonald and Hardy have been.
Especially in the case of the Vikings, with their star man not getting any younger and any trial in his case not coming until next year, they’ll more than likely try and get one last big year out of him. The NFL are looking at his case now though, and will be under huge pressure to make a stand on this issue by banning one of the biggest names they have.
How and when the league and NFL get involved in player behavioural issues is another big key. Should they start banning players who are merely charged with offences? This is a tricky one as legal cases usually take months to run their course and in the meantime big players are earning huge salaries.
Innocent until proven guilty may be the way they go, but having such a highly privileged, highly paid and even more highly scrutinised job as an NFL star, it still amazes that players manage to get themselves in such off-field situations – when they seemingly have it all.
Under intense pressure, Goodell needs to act swiftly and decisively to take a stand on these highly emotive issues, to not only restore pride in America’s national sport but also faith and belief in him being the right man to steer the ship.
A tough, cohesive, transparent policy to deal with players found guilty of domestic violence and child abuse is called for, which takes the onus off the clubs and puts it onto the league’s hands and takes no notice of player value or star quality, if Goodell is to negotiate the most testing spell of his career.
