This past week, I've been burdened greatly by the appalling amount of suspensions Roger Goodell and the NFL have been handing out to players and staff. According to www.spotrac.com, in just this season (Including offseason) alone, the NFL has suspended 30 players for a combined 142 games, while also raking in a very hefty amount of cash ($14,777,355) in fines. The problem is that these punishments aren't being effective enough. Goodell and the NFL must throw the hammer down and make an example out of all offenders of the policies these players agreed to uphold.
In this offseason, I have seen RB Ray Rice, assault a woman be handed a two-game suspension, while another player, WR LaVon Brazill be suspended for a season for violating the drug policy. What is wrong here? The problem is that there is an incredible lack of uniformity in the disciplinary actions by the NFL and commissioner Goodell.
I understand that there are certain factors that are in play, such as repeat offenses and severity of the offense, but does that mean that these offenses cant be made an example of to the rest of the league?
As an Indianapolis Colts fan, I was greatly shocked and disappointed when I discovered that our defensive anchor, OLB Robert Mathis would be missing the first four games of the season for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. After doing a little digging into the situation, I discovered that he was using the fertility drug Clomid to begin a family with his wife, Brandi, near the end of last season. As a fan of the Colts, I was disappointed that Goodell didn't allow an appeal for this, but I think that it was Mathis' fault for not checking with the NFL before using this drug.
I'm sure that there have been other situations like this for other teams and it has bothered a number of fans as well. I think that if there was a more uniformed way of disciplining athletes, the NFL would receive much less backlash and maybe even have a little more support.
To drive all of this home, I want the NFL to go to the fullest extent in disciplining these athletes. In today's American society, Athletes and celebrities are placed on an incredibly high pedestal, in which many kids look up to.Are we sending type of message that it is okay to abuse your girlfriend/wife, take PEDs, and do whatever you want with minimal consequences? I certainly hope not. I would love to see the intensity of the consequences doubled, if not tripled. I am tired of athletes forgetting who really helps pay their paychecks, and not giving a damn about the fans and kids that consider them "idols".
Something needs to be done. Your move, commissioner.
