The National Football League has once again dropped the ball when it comes to correctly handling a situation. Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke publicly about the recent findings of New York Giants’ kicker Josh Brown.
“When you talk to the domestic violence experts, these are difficult matters to deal with,” Goodell said, “You have rights, you have families that you have to be concerned with, privacy issues,”
He also went on to say the league has made “tremendous progress.”
So where is the progress on the issue of domestic violence? With one out of every three women being abused and one out of every four men, it totals up to more than 10 million people per year according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Why was it that when ex-running back Ray Rice struck his wife in an elevator the world was on fire? Meanwhile, Brown who had reports of abusing his wife back to 2015 maintained a job in the NFL?
We want more than a mere apology and a couple of quotes intended to save the image of the NFL. Domestic violence is nothing to joke about. Brown’s wife reached out to the NFL during the the 2015 Pro Bowl and was shushed by the league.
Brown has come out and issued an apology. While saying he does not want to be a statistic, but a part of the voice that creates change for the view on domestic violence.
Where was this ownership when the accusations were made? Why does it always require someone losing their career before they speak out against something they have done?
It is time a stand is taken against domestic violence and not one that results in consequences after mistakes have been made. The NFL had a chance to show the world domestic violence will not be tolerated and instead decided to sweep it under the rug and pretend like it never happened.
And here’s the best part, the Giants were informed of these allegations as well and still failed to act upon it. There is a problem with our society and the way we look at such serious matters.
We want to encourage anyone out there to speak out against domestic violence. The month of October is over, but alongside breast cancer awareness, the month is dedicated to domestic violence victims.
Despite missing the month where awareness might be the highest, the fight against domestic violence needs to continue. No woman or man should be exposed to a violent relationship or should have to deal with someone trying to physically harm them.
