Just last week, TMZ released a tape showing NFL Ravens player Ray Rice knocking his fiancée unconscious in an elevator in a New Jersey casino. The most shocking part of this was that the tape, in reality, did not shock much of the audience it reached. Speculation and assumptions come with a heavy burden, but when the NFL had first gotten a hold of the footage showing Rice dragging his now-wife unconscious out of the elevator, it was hard not to suspect what had happened. However, the most surprising part of this all was Rice’s mere two game suspension for his actions prior to the video being released this past week.
What is important to point out here is that Rice has now been cut from the Ravens and suspended from the NFL all together; however, these things happened after the tape was released rather than prior. The NFL has had a long-standing record with condoning atrocious behavior by its players and brushing the evidence under the rug, but it seems that this time, it has finally caught up with them. Realistically, the NFL did not cut Rice for his actions but rather, they cut him in hopes of saving their league, team and their asses, quite frankly.
Since the incident, the NFL has put in place a six-game suspension for all domestic violence cases and a lifetime ban for repeat offenders. After this was set in place, just three days later, San Francisco player Ray McDonald was arrested for striking his pregnant fiancée. The league has yet to discipline him, and he took the field Sunday. This is the exact behavior that leads me to speak out against the NFL, domestic violence and the violence that mainstream television and professional sports glamorize.
The worst part of this situation is that the light punishment by the NFL was not the only minor slap on the wrist Rice received. Rice was charged with third-degree aggravated assault and entered a pretrial diversion program where all charges will be dropped. For punching his fiancée in the face and dragging her unconscious body out of an elevator, he receives no punishment. The idea that both the NFL and the court system have condoned this behavior is sickening. It’s true to say in many cases that life isn’t fair, but I dare anyone to challenge the idea that, had this been another man and his wife far from the limelight, no punishment would have been received. It’s disgusting to comprehend that the NFL will not take responsibility for its actions, and it took media coverage of the incident to prompt the NFL to do the right thing.
As for the NFL’s “new and improved rules” that include six game suspensions and lifetime bans, they mean little to nothing. Ironically, lifetime bans can be repealed after just one season. They are not rules nor will they seek out players breaking rules, rather they are just words stated by a powerful man hoping to regain some confidence by beloved fans.
Lastly and most importantly, it is imperative to see the NFL will not and does not plan to change its behavior. The National Football League does not care about women’s issues such as domestic violence or sexual assaults; it only cares about money and the idea that these men can do no wrong because we “need” them to carry on the idea of “classic Monday night entertainment.” It is time for us to stop tolerating the NFL’s behavior. By simply ignoring the unfairness going on, we stand as silent followers, perpetuating injustice.
Allie Ebben ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in nursing.
