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NFL Doesn’t Care about Cancer Awareness, Domestic Violence Victims

By Phil Naegely

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The National Football League is a disaster when it comes to public relations. Overall, the league is very hypocritical and doesn’t really care about the real issues, such as domestic violence and cancer research. Time after time the league continues to show that most of their decisions are only based on the money they can make, rather than truly caring.

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For example, they tried to amend that when they came down hard on Ray Rice after video surfaced of him hitting his then-fiance. Yet, it was too late as they went easy on him with only a two-game suspension. After the incident’s aftermath, the league vowed they would take a clearer stance against domestic violence and similar charges.

They worked with the NFLPA to change it in the CBA, so it looked like they were making strives in the right direction. However, since then they have failed on many fronts, but two really stick out. Despite what they say and do, the NFL (as a league) does not care about those battling cancer, those who lost loved ones to cancer, or those who are domestic violence victims.

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While October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the league makes themselves look good by promoting that fact and have different pink gear (towels, whistles, etc.). However, when a player tries to wear eye black or wear pink shoes to honor a loved one lost to cancer, the league goes crazy and fines the player.

Yes, the player is breaking the rules, but the NFL needs to have common sense and not look hypocritical when a player is trying to promote the same cause of them. The NFL shouldn’t care if a player wears pink shoes to raise breast cancer research or purple in honor of domestic violence victims. The league should have some common sense on these issues, but clearly they aren’t showing it.

Just this month, two Pittsburgh Steelers players were involved in similar situations. In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and his mother who was a domestic violence victim, Steelers cornerback William Gay wore purple cleats against the KC Chiefs and was fined for it. After practice on Wednesday Gay explained to reporters, “”I think we all know why I wore the purple cleats.”

Sep 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to Gay, teammate DeAngelo Williams was fined for wearing eye black. He previously asked to wear pick accessories to honor his mother who had breast cancer, but was told he couldn’t. Instead, he wore eye black supporting his mother and has since been fined. After the NFL mishandled the Craig “Ironhead” Heyward situation and his wearing of “Ironhead” on his eye black, the league should have learned from it. Instead they didn’t and have since looked like a bigger villain.

Instead of worrying about players wearing eye black of certain color sneakers to honor family members and causes, the league has more important areas to focus on. For example, the NFL needs to worry more about the Johnny Manziel’s and Greg Hardy’s of the league and less about media using GIFs, Vines, and other sources of game film.

Their actions, especially Hardy’s are despicable and should not be celebrated, but rather handled appropriately by a team’s owner or GM celebrating “leadership”. It’s a bad look when Jerry Jones talks to the media and enables a player’s bad behavior. It makes the situation an even worse nightmare.

NFL players are role models to millions of kids. It’s unfortunate when the league fines them for raising awareness to big issues and notable causes. Overall, it shows the league only cares about one thing, money. Furthermore, it shows the league doesn’t truly care about those battling cancer or those who were a victim of domestic violence.

They only care about issues, like Breast Cancer Awareness, during certain months because they make money off of it. The league needs to worry more about the bigger issues and take notes away from other leagues.

To NFL executives and owners all they care about is making money, which is important in any business model. Yet, the public relations side of things and how they treat players is equally as important. They get a big, whopping “F” when it comes to the public relations side of things and look like a big, bad bully when they fine their players for wearing eye black or apparel that honors a noble cause. The league needs reform when it comes to their uniform and eye black policies and it must start now because they truly don’t care about those affected by cancer or victims of domestic violence.

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