NFL Job Approval Editorial

By Jacob Flax, Student Editor

Barton Community College

Great Bend Kan.

Note: This is an Editorial.

In the first three weeks of the National Football League, the League has done a terrible job on their domestic violence policy. In July, former Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice, was suspended for two games. The public was so strongly outraged, that the NFL had to pass a new policy regarding domestic violence offences.

Under the new policy, the first offence would result in a six game suspension. The second offence will result in an indefinite suspension with a chance of reinstatement after one year.

“I think that they were right to suspend him even if it was off season,” Sophomore Coryell Deege from Albert, Kan. said. “There should be a standard for the player’s behavior because the player represents the whole team and not just for himself.”

The NFL dropped the ethical ball. Either someone in the NFL office did not give Roger Goodall the video footage inside the elevator at Revel Casino, or the NFL intentionally tried to cover up the incident. As a result of this error, Adrian Peterson’s child abuse allegations and other players’ actions are getting the spotlight more than typical.

Picture of Roger Goodall at a Press Conference at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Picture taken by: Agence France Presse) (Picture received at: http://www.businessinsider.com/roger-goodell-defends-ray-rice-suspension-baltimore-ravens-2014-8)

“They admitted that they make a mistake,” said Professor Edmond Johnson, Sociology Instructor and Chair of the Department of Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences, and Education. “In many ways they are being consistent, like the Michael Vic situation. Punishments were issued separately but they got corrected.”

The NFL should pass a policy that not only suspends the player but also penalizes the team if it covers up an offence. Additionally, the team could be disqualified for postseason play. A major punishment that punishes the team can result in a change of culture that would reduce domestic violence. An alternate solution for the team is also to forfeit all draft picks of the next season.

I like these ideas these world work. I like to have some kind of solution, but any idea would solve this problem would be welcome.

Picture of Ray Rice and Janay Palmer (Picture taken by: Mel Evans/AP Images) (Picture received at: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11468620/domestic-violence-expert-says-nfl-campaign-change-society)