The culture of the NFL needs to change quickly.
There is no reason NFL players should be allowed to play after being arrested or convicted for crimes. It makes no difference whether a player was arrested for drugs, driving while under the influence, assault, etc. The violent culture of the NFL should not extend off the field. Like any other citizen of this country, they should be expected to comply with the laws of the land.
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested and charged with simple assault after an altercation with his fiancee. TMZ reportedly showed a video of Rice dragging his fiancee across an elevator. Two other Baltimore Ravens' players, Deonte Thompson and Jah Reid have also been arrested within the last month.
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"It's unacceptable. It's disappointing," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla. "But you also separate the person from the activity, and redemption is something that we think is important as well. If there is ever a point in time when we feel that person has lost value for our team, starting with football or because of their character, then you move on from those guys. But those guys aren't to that point."
Harbaugh should be defending his players. We should expect that from a head coach. However, that doesn't change the fact that these players are in trouble with the law. It's not just the Ravens either. The entire NFL is weak when it comes to disciplining players for important matters.
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Commissioner Roger Goodell is always ready to discipline a player or fine a player for tackling too hard or questioning officials. However, he doesn't seem to be going after the real problem in the NFL. The culture, or even the belief that the NFL is above the law is a farce. No one is above the law. If anything, NFL players, with their multimillion dollar contracts, should be held to tougher laws. Young men and women look up to these players as if they were heroes. Some such as former Colts' head coach Tony Dungy, who works to improve the lives of others, could be seen as a hero. A majority of these players should not be seen as such.
In what other profession does a person get arrested (and even convicted) of a crime and get to keep his job? And in addition to keeping his job, he gets to make millions of dollars. How is that right? No one is above the law. Committing stupid acts such as driving under the influence should be punished immediately. Heck, NFL players, if drunk, have a number they can call to get a driver to bring them home. Why do these players let their arrogance and superiority complexes get in the way of common sense?
I believe in everyone in life should get a second chance (murder aside). However, the NFL seems to be giving fifth or sixth chances to players. To owners and the league itself, it doesn't matter who you have employed. As long as he can tackle, score a touchdown or make the team money, no one cares. The newsflash is that the owners and the NFL should care. Tackling and speaking out against referees aren't going to destroy the NFL, the violent culture and belief that the law is inferior will.
If I were Roger Goodell, I would think carefully about how to handle arrests in the future. The fate of the NFL depends on those thoughts.
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