The NFL Again Drops the Ball Regarding Domestic Violence

Since 2009, the NFL has promoted Breast Cancer Awareness during the month of October. Players wear pink gloves and pink cleats, and even pink hats to bring awareness to the disease. Analysts sport pink ties, pink dress shirts, and for some a boutonniere or a pocket square to show their support.

While bringing awareness and making substantial monetary donations to the breast cancer community is certainly commendable, the league continues to ignore that Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is also in October.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was criticized earlier this year for his handling of the video of then Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice attacking his wife inside a casino elevator in Atlantic City, N.J. At first, Goodell suspended Rice for two games. But after the video was leaked by TMZ, the Ravens cut Rice and the commissioner suspended him indefinitely.

After Rice’s suspension, the NFL announced partnerships with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Goodell himself said he was going to do more in handling domestic violence, so it’s shocking that this October, the league has continued to sweep it under the rug.

This would have been a great opportunity to educate fans on the one-in-three women and the one in 33 men who have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime. At a minimum this would have been a good time to inform the fans of the types of abuse and where they can get help.

Instead of taking advantage of a great opportunity to educate others, the NFL continues to flagrantly ignore the issues of domestic violence. As long as Goodell and the rest of the NFL chooses to ignore their problem with domestic violence, the longer it will be an issue.

Earlier this week, Florida State running back Karlos Williams was being investigated for allegedly assaulting a woman, who is pregnant with his second child. While the woman told the Tallahassee Police to drop their investigation, she did post these photos to her Facebook. Whether or not Williams assaulted the mother of his child while pregnant with his second child, someone did.

The hypocrisy of the NFL is exasperating. You can’t say “we are trying to help with breast cancer awareness women survive breast cancer” while you do nothing to bring awareness of domestic violence and help women (and men) survive their batterers. While you may think the league may makes every appearance to be trying to looking out for the best interest of women, it is will continues to be about their bottom line and bank accounts.

Maybe one day a major professional sport have a month long promotion to bring awareness to domestic violence, but it appears we have a long way to get to that point. The more the major pro sports attempt to pretend domestic violence isn’t a problem, the bigger problem it becomes.

One in three women and one in seven men have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime. 74 percent of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. Most people think of physical abuse is the only form of domestic violence, but abuse comes in many forms.

If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, they can call the 24/7 hotline at 1–800–799-SAFE or they can visit http://www.thehotline.org/ to talk live to a trained advocate for during real-time. The chats are available every day from 7:00 AM – 2:00 AM Central. All calls and chats are completely confidential.

PASS THE PEACE!