The NFL season is already off to a wild start, not because Peyton Manning has now become the second quarterback to beat every NFL team, but because of a TMZ video.

As the result of new footage surfacing Monday morning of Running Back Ray Rice punching then fiance Janay Palmer in an elevator, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Rice’s contract immediately.

In the video it shows what looks like a disagreement, followed by a quick scuffle before Janay reacts by going after Rice after the doors close in the elevator. Rice then completely knocks Palmer off her feet and into a railing leaving her unconscious.

The worst part isn’t that he punches her (which is horrifying) but that there is no look of panic or worry as to whether or not she is okay. To follow that, he checks on her to make sure she is okay by nudging her with his foot.

In no way do I excuse Rice’s actions, since she clearly hit him first. All that does is take us back to the debate as to why its okay for women to hit men, but not vice versa.

No one should be hitting anyone to begin with, so let’s make that clear.

That’s not what this video is about.

It’s about that fact that the NFL, in particular Commissioner Roger Goddell, thought that a 2 game suspension was enough to justify Ray Rice’s actions.

Coincidentally, after being scrutinized by his decision, the NFL changed their policy: a six-game suspension without pay for the first offense and lifetime ban for a second offense. The rules specified that they would apply to all NFL personnel.

Interesting timing wouldn’t you say?

There was a lot of uproar and backlash over the new policy that was then compared to the NFL’s drug policy.

Fans and media members alike that spoke out had a right to be angry. Women and drugs are not the same thing.

It’s one thing to be destructive to your own body with drugs, it’s another to be the cause of damage to someone else.

The NFL is put on a pedestal for the world to see. If you want to stay successful, caliber players help. Why would you ever want someone on your team who has no care in the world that they knocked their fiancée unconscious? That has to make you question someone’s character.

That is a clear sign of being a sociopath, in my opinion.

Also, NFL players are looked up to by thousands of little kids on and off the field. Is it okay for a little boy to think they can knock someone out cold, or for girls to think that it’s acceptable to be hit?

No.

This doesn’t apply just to men beating women, women beating men and men beating men unconscious is just as bad and should rightfully be punished.

What this should teach the NFL overall is that abuse, assault and rape should not be tolerated. Though this is a lesson they should’ve learned back in 2010 when Ben Roethlisberger was accused of assault.

No matter what happens, the NFL policy will never make everyone happy, one can only hope that it’s headed in the right direction.

 

If you or someone you know has been a victim of domestic abuse, please call 1-800-799-7233 or visit The National Domestic Violence hotline.