After weeks of increased criticism, the NFL is taking a hard-line stance against domestic violence. Β A stance that could see violators banned forever.
Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell sent a letter to team owners detailing the league’s new policy on domestic abuse. Β Something he says they’ve fallen short on in the past.
For the first offense: there’s a minimum 6-game suspension without pay. Β The league will take into account mitigating factors, as well as aggravating ones, like whether they’ve had a history of violence, how severe the incident was, and if children or pregnant women are involved. Β But a second incident is where it gets really severe: lifetime banishment from the league. Β They can petition for re-entry after one year, but there’s no guarantee the league will even entertain it.
Most of the heat on this stems from the Ray Rice situation. Β A video shows him dragging his then-fiance, now-wife, out of an elevator after knocking her out because she spit on him during an argument. Β For that, he got a 2-game suspension, and Goddell took a lot of criticism.
We also have a related story happening right here in Charlotte. Β Panther Greg Hardy is appealing his conviction of beating and threatening his ex-girlfriend. Β That case won’t be over until after the upcoming season. Β Whatever the outcome, it’s unclear whether his case would be exempt from the new policy since it started before the rules took effect. Β We’ll just have to wait and see. Β
But that brings us back to the new policy in place by the NFL. Β Does it address the problem of domestic violence appropriately? Β Our Man on the Edge, Robert Wilder, hit the streets to see what some of you think…
