The NFL's Latest Black Eye

Wow! That sure didn't take long.....

Just a few days after the NFL announced harsher penalties for domestic violence incidents, 49er's defensive end, Ray McDonald, was arrested for roughing up his pregnant girlfriend. Sounds like a real Teddy Bear of a guy, huh?

The NFL's new penalties surrounding domestic violence translates into a 6-game suspension for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second. This decision, of course, came on the heels of the slap on the wrist that was given to Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice.

Rice, attempting to become Baltimore's greatest knock-out artist since Hasim Rahman, was arrested earlier this year for punching his girlfriend's lights out in an Atlantic City casino. The image of Rice dragging his girlfriend's limp, unconscious body out of an elevator instantly became a source of embarrassment to the Ravens and their fans. The NFL was heavily criticized when they gave a Rice a relatively light suspension of only two games. And since the Ravens play their second game on a Thursday night the suspension amounts to less than a week.

Now, the thing that goes through my mind is, "Why do these guys keep getting into these situations?"

Some people will attempt to downplay these "rare occurrences" and argue that the NFL is actually below the national average for domestic violence instances. While this might be true, I guess I expect a little better behavior from guys that are supposed to be disciplined professionals. Plus, most of these guys are very large and tremendously strong. Just the thought of one of them punching a woman is a bit disturbing.

How many other occupations have to outline the disciplinary actions for domestic abuse? I have been in the workforce since I was a teenager and I can't remember any of my employers ever saying "Just to let you know, if you hit a woman, you're going get six weeks off without pay. And if you do it a second time, we will have no choice but to let you go."

And let's face it, if you got arrested for some of these things, your career would likely be in immediate jeopardy without an option for a second chance. The NFL might have to take that approach before long.....

kw