With the Ray Rice situation causing all kinds of negative waves toward the NFL, 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald is likely to face the wrath of the league due to the timing of his own alleged domestic violence incident.

The NFL and the 49ers organization have stated on numerous occasions that they will let the legal process run it’s course when it comes to McDonald, but if he is found guilty will the league throw the book at him due to the timing of the alleged incident?

If the incident goes south for McDonald, the defensive end is facing at least a six game suspension for his role and due to his alleged victim being pregnant he is subject to more punishment.

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49ers CEO Jed York even went out of his way to say that McDonald is not Ray Rice and he expects the NFL to be hard, but fair when his time comes.

"Ray McDonald is not Ray Rice," York said. "As a society, we have a sense of saying, 'You didn't do it with Ray Rice right away, so you need to overdo it with Ray McDonald, or whoever else it is.' I don't believe that's the country we live in. I don't think that's a fair way to approach it."

"I don't have enough information to convict Ray McDonald in one way or another. The legal process hasn't vetted itself. The criminal investigation has not vetted itself yet."

McDonald could become the scapegoat the NFL needs to right the wrongs they have admitted to during the Ray Rice controversy. If and when the NFL decides to act on McDonald, he could face anywhere from a six to 12 game suspension for his actions. The NFL’s actions toward McDonald will truly test if they understand the seriousness of domestic violence.

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The 49ers have spoken out against domestic violence in the days following McDonald’s arrest and coach Jim Harbaugh said that players guilty of domestic violence will not have a place on a team he is coaching.

McDonald has spent his entire seven-year NFL career with the 49ers and has registered 16.5 sacks over that time. McDonald played for the 49ers in their Week 1 victory against the Cowboys and is expected to play for the team until he has his day in court.

[Mercury News]

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