NIT – In the wake of an NFL decision to suspend a star NFL running back only two games after he allegedly punched his wife out cold – and subsequent public backlash – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized and announced new, higher standards for personnel conduct within the league.
Thursday, Goodell apologized for his decision in the case of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, accused of domestic abuse. Video shows Rice dragging his unconscious fiance out of a hotel elevator. Rice and the woman got married the next day. Goodell delieverd a letter to NFL owners and laid out a range of changes to the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.
“My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families,” Goodell said in the letter. “I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values. I didn’t get it right. Simply put, we have to do better. And we will.”
Rice later apologized for his actions in a press conference.
As part of the announced changes to policy:
Effective immediately, violations of the Personal Conduct Policy regarding assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault that involve physical force will be subject to a suspension without pay of six games for a first offense, with consideration given to mitigating factors, as well as a longer suspension when circumstances warrant. Among the circumstances that would merit a more severe penalty would be a prior incident before joining the NFL, or violence involving a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child. A second offense will result in banishment from the NFL; while an individual may petition for reinstatement after one year, there will be no presumption or assurance that the petition will be granted. These disciplinary standards will apply to all NFL personnel.
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Since when did the NFL become a court of law. If it didn’t happen on the field of play or on team business it is none of their business. Now, if he goes to jail and can’t play then he is in violation of his contract and they have a right to take action. If there is a clause in his contract that is one thing. The NFL is setting itself up as judge and jury. I am in no way condoning what he did to his wife. No real man would ever do something like that.
Every NFL player has a clause in their contract called “conduct detrimental to the league.” Anything they do off the field that brings bad Publicity to their team or to the NFL the commissioner can discipline them for that action. Several companies have this same policy. The company I work for has this policy. If I go out and get charged with a crime and bring bad publicity to my company they can disciplined me including termination even though my actions did not take place during working…
@Viking-Thank you for the info. I disagree with the policy but at least there is a reason for it.
Okay. Good. Now let Jordan play. All he did was smoke a little cannabis. Not quite on the level of knocking a woman out cold!