Domestic Violence Policy in the NFL

Earlier this week Commissioner Roger Goodell of the NFL announced the new domestic violence policy that would go into action. The league and commissioner came under criticism with the way the domestic violence case was handled this offseason with Ravens running back Ray Rice. Rice was seen on camera striking his now wife and knocking her unconscious by a casino security camera. Rice’s punishments were a two game suspension, a fine of $58,000 and complete an anger management program. Across the nation we felt as though it was a slap on the wrist to Rice and we all thought he would face harsher punishment. At the same time another player Josh Gordon was facing a year of suspension for the league’s substance abuse policy. In a sense was the league teaching our youth that domestic violence cases are pushed aside while cases that involve drugs are much more severe? The Rice case gave the league the opportunity to strengthen the domestic violence policy in which the first offense by any NFL employee would receive a six game suspension without pay. The second offense is a lifetime ban with possibility of an appeal and reinstatement. Instantly the NFL strengthened its policy, which has overlooked domestic violence cases. Weaknesses of the league’s new policy are those who might use the justification of the Ray Rice case and say it is unfair to have a six game suspension and even possibility of lifetime ban when there are several cases before where the punishments were not so severe.  I think the NFL did the right thing by stiffening its policy and in the end it will all pay out in the end, but right now there can be much negative criticism stating that there should have already been a policy set in  place.