I have thought about this topic since it started without
saying much online here. I watched the Ray Rice video in disgust. It did occur
to me though we are kind of putting a double standard out there based on job
and I would suspect money. I don't like domestic abuse at all, I think abusing
spouses, children or anyone should be punished. However I think the process and
punishment should also be equal to everyone in our society not matter job,
money, sex, race, religion etc. I know people are getting down with the NFL and
looking at the players wrapped up in this and putting them on stage because it
has a position in our life with entertainment and the money they make. They are
"role" models or positions with media coverage. I know that kids and
people see AP or Ray Rice as idols. I understand this. However I also came to a
realization a while back that we are all role models, every day with the
people, kids, adults by the things we do. In fact we are probably indirect role
models more in a year than these Football stars are for 16 weeks a year whether
we know it or not. If your spouse got
mad and hit you in the arm and then the next time did it again, that is
considered abuse if you prosecute it. Now if you prosecute it and say your spouse
works at an automaker, should the automaker suspend him/her? Should he/she get
fired? Should there be pressure on the automaker be held accountable for
everyone one of its employees from the senior board members to the maintenance
workers? And if that automaker allows due process to takes its course, is it
condoning the behavior? I am not saying they should not be punished or what
they did (AP or Ray Rice) is right, I am putting out there, that there seems to
be more criticism/circumstances put on them, then the hundreds of thousands of
cases in country of abuse.
How would it play out outside of the NFL? Companies do not
just fire or suspend people, in fact many won’t even know unless it impacts
there job. So if a person has too much time off they lose their job, fine
should be the same for these players. If sponsors or groups want to hold back
or terminate their affiliation that is the right of the company. However to
suspend them indefinitely to me at this point is beyond what a reasonable
person in any walk of is given and that is my problem right now. We want to
hold them to a different accountability because they play in the NFL, MLB, NHL
whatever for what reason? They are in the media? They make more money than us? We
pay good money to see games? They are role models? All of the above? Come on
look at the reasoning? They are not super humans empowered by extra powers of
being better citizens than us! We buy our goods from companies all the time
that have employees with abuse cases ongoing. The media is the media, companies
are in the media? Ford or GM advertises all the time, I am sure they have
employees with ongoing abuse cases. Money should not have anything to do with
this conversation, how much someone makes should have no bearing on the
severity of the abuse and the punishment of the abuse. Role models, maybe we
should take this time to address and educate our kids about role models, people
making mistakes, instead of using it to more guilt on certain people. In the
end if someone is found guilty bring down the hammer, in the meantime treat
everyone the same!
I am going to say something that has not really been in the
forefront of any of the media information and that is, this biggest
disappointment to date should be put on the NFLPA and not the NFL. The NFLPA is
the ruling organization for the players. Why is it not in their realm to police
and hold accountable its own membership for items such as this? Why is it
strictly on the owners/NFL to carry out all the work on actions performed as a
member of the NFLPA who plays in the NFL? It’s kind of funny with all the
player’s issues that the NFLPA does nothing unless they don’t like what the NFL
has done. You want to provide value and help the players in the league, step up
and be accountable for your membership NFLPA. Be proactive do something other
than file an appeal if a player doesn’t like a ruling. All this is a chance to
become an actual organization who is accountable to its membership and show the
world it will also do what is right. THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING! The organization
is a joke, same with all the players associations. They disband as a tactic
when it’s convenient for them but still want to be treated as a single group,
they don’t enforce any rules within their own organization for drugs, abuse or
violence, and they let the NFL do all the work and only complain if they don’t
like it. What I would like to see is the NFLPA provide the course of action on
these players and have the NFL look and agree with them. I would like to see
the players association be the lead instead of the suck ups. “I know we have
bad apples but they give us money” approach is worrisome and is one of the
reasons organized labor is losing some traction. That is not good because their
need to be a voice for workers. You have to show that you are not just going
to defend your members but you are going to do something when they cross the
line. You have to show that the jobs they perform are part of the success to
the business and have impact on the business. As members you should expect more
than just negotiating and legal fights for your hard earned dues you pay in.
They should provide value to you and your job every day, by doing that you’re
going to keep your job longer! None of the players associations do this because
they are still in the old defensive mind set of the past! It’s disgusting to me
because indirectly they are supporting the player’s actions and letting the NFL
take all the heat, not right.
