Earlier this year, ESPN.com Sports Business reporter Darren Rovell reported that the NFL was the most popular sport in America yet again. Much has changed though, since the Harris poll was conducted back in January. The NFL is receiving attention for the wrong reasons, and although ratings may not be hurting now, it certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibilities in the near future.
Let’s look at what has happened recently. Baltimore Ravens running back has been waived by the Baltimore Ravens, following a domestic violence incident back in February. San Francisco’s Ray McDonald and Carolina’s Greg Hardy are both involved in similar cases, with Hardy facing serious charges. Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, widely considering one of the best in the league, is being indicted for a negligent injury to a child charge.
I don’t care if any of them have been found guilty in a court of law yet. The whole “let’s give them due process”
Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens fan shows her support for former player Ray Rice during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
argument is egregious and just a brick wall for teams to hide behind. The only reason Adrian Peterson won’t be on the field this weekend is because the Minnesota Vikings received the same criticism that Goodell did with the Ray Rice situation. Even Minnesota governor, Mark Dayton, had called for Peterson’s suspension on Tuesday.
In 2014, there have been 38 arrests of NFL players, according to NFL Arrest Database. As it says on the website, all of the charges listed are more serious than speeding violations. When is something going to be done? Because Commissioner Roger Goodell certainly isn’t doing anything it. The NBA has Adam Silver. The MLB has Bud Selig, until 2015. Roger Goodell just isn’t the right man for this job.
Under no circumstances is acceptable for a man to lay his hands on a woman, unless they are simply restraining them. That same rule should be known when it involves a child. Ray Rice’s original two-game suspension was laughable to say the least. The funniest part of his whole situation was that Rice was the most one in the case. Goodell and the NFL are there trying to cover the situation up, to prevent public backlash, but they got it anyway.
Someone as educated as Commissioner Goodell should have realized that it was only a matter of time before TMZ or anyone got a hold of that video from the Atlantic City elevator, where the incident occurred. Now the NFL has a gash on its head that won’t stop bleeding. Day after day, it seems that there is new issue that this league has to deal with, and the cases appear to be getting worse and worse. Social media will only allow for more cases to be publicized, putting the NFL’s credibility down the toilet.
Goodell has equivocally denied seeing that video time and time again. He could have seen it if he wanted to. That isn’t the biggest issue though. It wasn’t necessary for him to see it. It wasn’t necessary for anyone to see it. Everyone with half a brain knew what happened in that elevator. Janay Palmer, now Janay Rice, didn’t knock herself out. All that the video did was show a gruesome, disgusting scene that I am still trying to erase from memory.
Don’t get me wrong, I am furious with Ray Rice. As a New Jersey native, I have followed this man since he stepped on the field at Rutgers. This is a much bigger issue though. Roger Goodell has made questionable decisions left and right, and this one should cost him his job. Ray Rice would be eligible to play this weekend, had the video not been released, courtesy of TMZ Sports.
Roger Goodell has had no method to his madness in dishing out suspensions in the past, and this case was no different. The NFL has had an overly strict drug policy, but when it comes to safety of children and women they can’t afford to lose those players. In what world does that make sense? Football needs its Adam Silver. It needs someone who isn’t afraid to cut ties with players that commit moral wrongdoings.
Although I will continue to watch the game that I love, things need to change. There will be a point in time where a large majority of people, myself included, will simply turn off football games. The NFL is currently the most lucrative and must-see sport in the United States, but by keeping Roger Goodell in charge of the league it only shows that these incidents will become a common theme in an ever-growing social media society.