Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Domestic Violence: An Increasing Problem With the NFL

Full Article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/25/nfl-ray-mcdonald-arrested_n_7437170.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports


In the May 21st class, (7th module), deviance in sports was discussed.  Being deviant is an act by a person that differs from the norm, especially behavior or attitudes that differ from acceptable social standards.  In the article above, Ray McDonald displays this deviant behavior that was covered in the module.  Now a former Chicago Bears defensive end,  he was recently arrested for charges on domestic violence. One of the ways people can be deviant in society includes violent crimes, which encompasses domestic violence.  Also covered in the material was the rate at which these violent crimes have increased since 1960; a 560% increase.  The domestic violence rate committed by NFL players constitutes more than half of the national average.



To read more on domestic violence in the NFL follow this link: http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

Connected to the module was an article about the National Football League (NFL) increasing its stance on domestic violence.  The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, in 2014, after the domestic violence case involving Ray Rice, put forth new policies and disciplinary actions that would result if any NFL employee, player or personnel, was charged with domestic violence.  The policies state that a first offense would result in a six game suspension for the following crimes:

  • Assault 
  • Battery
  • Domestic violence 
  • Sexual assault that involves physical force
There would be more severe penalties for crimes that involve:

  • Violence with a weapon
  • Choking
  • Repeated striking
  • An act committed against a pregnant woman or committed in the presence of a child
Ray McDonald is accused of assaulting a women who was holding a baby.  McDonald has already been released by the Chicago Bears.  In December of 2014, McDonald was also released from the San Fransisco 49ers after sexual assault charges were brought against him.



In another article about the latest incident, the author Nancy Armour believes that not only McDonald should be punished, but the Bears should be punished as well.  Armour's argument is that the Bears, knowing his history, should have never signed McDonald in the first place.  According to Armour, if the NFL really wants to toughen their stance on the matter, they should punish those that enabled it to happen again.

The chances of McDonald being signed with another team in the league is unknown.   However, Ray Rice, who's charges of domestic violence were recently dismissed, has had no offers from any teams in the NFL.  Since this incident happened only yesterday (Monday, May 25), the investigation is still on going and no word has been received from the NFL commissioner.

References and Additional Reading:

Armour, N. (2015). Punish Bears for Ray McDonald's latest arrest. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2015/05/25/ray-mcdonald-arrest-chicago-bears-domestic-abuse/27923539/

Bender, K., Seligman, A. (2015). NFL's Ray McDonald Arrested for Domestic Violence. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/25/nfl-ray-mcdonald-arrested_n_7437170.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports

Cash, R. (2015). NFL can't give Ray McDonald another chance to abuse women and play. Sporting News. Retrieved from http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-05-25/ray-mcdonald-arrested-domestic-violence-nfl-discipline-out-of-chances-suspension-bears-49ers

McCalmont, L. (2015). Ray Rice's Domestic Violence Charges Have Been Dismissed. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/21/ray-rice-charges-dropped-dismissed_n_7354942.html

Morris, B. (2014). The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players. Five Thirty Eight. Retrieved from http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

Pelissero, T. (2014). NFL toughens its stance on domestic violence. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/08/28/nfl-toughens-its-stance-on-domestic-violence/14746187/

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