NFL Too Lenient on Abuse, Too Harsh on Cannabis

Ray Rice, running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was doled out a 2-game suspension for beating his then fiancée, Janay Palmer, unconscious and dragging her across the floor by her hair. The two are now married, for whatever that is worth. Violence is abhorrent in any situation. Sure, that may sound strange when talking about the world of professional football, but I think we can all agree that when there is a competition going on in which both sides knowingly play this game and fully understand what they’re in for, it just doesn’t carry the same sense of “violence” that comes with abuse and domestic battery. A player in full pads, squaring off against another player in full pads, is quite a departure from nearly killing your soon-to-be wife.

As much as I could write about the wrongness of domestic violence, that is really not the focus of this piece. I’d like to zero in on the NFL’s response (or lack thereof). For some perspective, 49er linebacker Aldon Smith missed 5 games last season in a self-imposed stint in rehab for a DUI charge, which (he’s hoping) might assuage the NFL execs and limit further action (it’s worth noting that Smith still faces the possibility of a 2-8 game suspension due to his off the field issues with DUIs and weapons charges). To be sure, DUI’s and weapons charges are nothing to take lightly.

But should Smith face a stiffer penalty for being a dumbass (thankfully, he didn’t hurt anyone during his issues) than Rice has been given for what should be categorized as attempted murder? Even more ludicrous is the case of Cleveland wideout Josh Gordon, currently trying to appeal his 16-game suspension for smoking cannabis. Sure, he had been warned, and failed 3 drug tests, but how does smoking weed and not hurting anyone warrant eight times the penalty of such a brutal assault on a woman?

To be fully honest, substance abuse issues are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which is a different governing statute than other infractions. But still, commissioner Roger Goodell wields a tremendous amount of influence on such matters and chose to issue what amounts to a slap on the wrist. Even in light of the knowledge of how the CBA treats substance abuse issues, there are examples of other bullshit rulings that fall in the same bucket as this Rice incident. Quarterback Tyrelle Pryor was suspended for 5 games for trading football memorabilia for tattoos while in college. That means he probably traded some autographed jerseys or something like that for a tattoo and he got a 150% greater punishment than Rice did for beating a woman unconscious.

To add insult to the horrible injury, “Rice in fact will return to the field just in time to wear the NFL’s pink-festooned uniforms to celebrate their deep commitment to breast cancer awareness—and their even deeper commitment to selling sixty-dollar jerseys marketed aggressively to their female fan base. In fact, the Ray Rice all-pink number is available for purchase right now. The NFL actually needs a Violence Against Women Month instead, to raise awareness about a killer that malignantly throbs in every locker room. But that is not going to happen…”

Ah, now I see why the NFL came down so hard on Pryor. He was selling his own memorabilia, the NFL didn’t get a cut. I guess there isn’t much profit to be lost in abusing women. I love football, but I am disgusted by the behavior exhibited by some of the players; moreso by the action/lack of action that comes from the executives. For what it’s worth, I do think there are some fine gentlemen in the NFL ranks. For instance, 49er head coach Jim Harbaugh has made it very clear to his players that if they ever put their hands in a violent way on a woman, they have no place on his team. I wish Commissioner Goodell would stop thinking with his wallet and act right.