Rice, The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players

backseatLover12

Interesting that no one has started a thread on this hot topic… very interesting.

Last week, the NFL suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games over an incident in which Rice was charged with knocking his fiancee (now wife) unconscious during an altercation in a New Jersey casino. Many have criticized this suspension as too lenient, particularly compared to the usual four-game suspension handed down for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Whether Rice’s punishment is fair touches on a number of delicate issues, including the NFL’s history and role in punishing off-field conduct, as well as its authority and obligations under the collective bargaining agreement.

But Rice’s offense — he pleaded not guilty and instead will participate in a pretrial intervention program — is indicative of a larger pattern in arrests of NFL players; they have been particularly prone to domestic violence arrests.

Although there seems to be an endless stream of stories about NFL player arrests and misconduct, this is largely because there are a lot of NFL players (and they’re famous). At the league’s peak (during training camps), there are about 2,560 players attached to NFL teams (limit 80 each). As I’ll show, arrest rates among NFL players are quite low compared to national averages for men in their age range — but there are some types of crimes that trail the pack significantly.

More at:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/the-rate-of-domestic-violence-arrests-among-nfl-players/

brianlux

Interesting that you mention this, bsl, because just the other day I happened on a 49ers/Cowboys game and they were talking about one of the players having been accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend but because it hasn't gone to trial he was allowed to play the game. Doesn't surprise me that there is violence among some of these players because to excel in this sport, aggression is built into their psyche. And yet the article says arrest rates among NFL players are low compared to national averages. Is it because they are they are more shielded and protected from the law? One thing for sure, it's a violent sport. Very American. I won't be surprised if someone jumps down my throat for saying that but its true, isn't it?

And I know I probably quote George Carlin too often but you all know his baseball vs football routine, right. Fits pretty well, doesn't it? ;-)

josevolution

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

hedonist

Should be unacceptable - or at least consistent - across the board, regardless of profession. This assumes the violence occurred (ie, trial,etc.).

By the same token, if some regular schlub smacks his woman (or vice versa on the gender side), should that person lose their job as well?

I heard something the other day about how football fans are more likely to "tolerate" this shit given that it IS a violent sport. But who's playing the sport?

(oh, and Brian - yup yup...helmet vs. cap says it all )

unsung

The NFL has known about the video for months but only not when it hit MSM have they done anything.

Sports in general have become a waste if time to me, really they are just a distraction for the problems we face.

Kat

The NFL has kind of lost me ... this was just another nail in that coffin. They didn't know they have/had women fans too? Not that the men who have mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, cousins, etc., shouldn't also be putting pressure on other men to stop domestic violence. I'd like to see more of that. I've seen some but it could be a lot better. Men educating men about this, more peer pressure, would be great. People need to leave each other alone...keep their unwanted hands off each other...it's pretty simple and that also means women shouldn't hit. I'm glad this issue is front and center. Have a good weekend everyone.

wall232

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

brianlux

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

I don't know a lot about Vick's case but certain questions (for which I don't have answers) do arise in my mind:

Did Vick really become a different person or is he just trying to get out from under being busted?

Will Vick be remembered for supporting a weak anti-dog fighting bill or for engaging in cruelty to animals?

Having become fairly high-profile in the public eye, what kind of affect will/ has his actions have on young fans? Which trait will they mimic?

The answers could go either way and if they go toward the negative, should Vick have been given a second chance?

My own opinion is no tolerance for brutality (including no brutality toward those who brutalize).

chadwick

horse johnson

brutalize brutal fucking bully punks like this rice clown or the welder at the tractor factory who beats his wife on a regular basis. actually, throw them both off hoover dam. just opinion, i could be wrong, but i'm not :bz

brianlux

chadwick said:

horse johnson

brutalize brutal fucking bully punks like this rice clown or the welder at the tractor factory who beats his wife on a regular basis. actually, throw them both off hoover dam. just opinion, i could be wrong, but i'm not :bz

I can understand the sentiment- the reasoning for feeling that way, Chadwick, but it's just not in my blood. I've been brutalized and yes, the thought of revenge crossed my mind but if I were given the power to retaliate in any fashion I chose, I would not be capable of brutality. To save my life or that of a loved one? Yes, very likely. As a form of revenge? Not possible.

backseatLover12

brianlux said:

Interesting that you mention this, bsl, because just the other day I happened on a 49ers/Cowboys game and they were talking about one of the players having been accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend but because it hasn't gone to trial he was allowed to play the game. Doesn't surprise me that there is violence among some of these players because to excel in this sport, aggression is built into their psyche. And yet the article says arrest rates among NFL players are low compared to national averages. Is it because they are they are more shielded and protected from the law? One thing for sure, it's a violent sport. Very American. I won't be surprised if someone jumps down my throat for saying that but its true, isn't it?

Very American it seems. One thing I wonder is not about the uproar over Rice being thrown out of the NFL but how the law is seemingly OK with what he did to his wife...

backseatLover12

Kat said:

The NFL has kind of lost me ... this was just another nail in that coffin. They didn't know they have/had women fans too? Not that the men who have mothers, daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, cousins, etc., shouldn't also be putting pressure on other men to stop domestic violence. I'd like to see more of that. I've seen some but it could be a lot better. Men educating men about this, more peer pressure, would be great. People need to leave each other alone...keep their unwanted hands off each other...it's pretty simple and that also means women shouldn't hit. I'm glad this issue is front and center. Have a good weekend everyone.

I don't know how true it is, but I briefly heard that Rice's own mother was a domestic abuse victim, which doesn't surprise me as the trend is cyclical in families. So how does one break the cycle and do the right thing for a change?

Kat

Just came across this. I have another hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I1o3PEyVxE

backseatLover12

Kat said:

Just came across this. I have another hero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I1o3PEyVxE

He's awesome.

josevolution

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

If that's how you feel that's fine remember it's not a right to play a sport and get paid millions it's a privilege and they should be held to high standards of conduct .... There are no deterrents in place send a strong message and you will see a change in the culture in the case of Vick he should of been banned for life , you want a 2nd chance you got it get a job in the real world by being a criminal you've forfeited your privilege at least IMHO ....

Jason P

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

That sounds fair to me.

mickeyrat

heard on the radio today that the ONLY reason for the indefinite ban was the fact that video evidence has come to light regarding Rice and the other instances of other players behaving the same way arent on video.

josevolution

http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/12/adrian-peterson-indicted-for-child-abuse/

Norm posted this on AET i thought we should also take a look at this here , if this is true i say ban him for life no 2nd chance fuck that .....

mickeyrat

Jason P said:

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

That sounds fair to me.

but his earned living doesnt have to be football. What was he going to do after he retired? RB longevity is brief at best in NFL.

Jason P

mickeyrat said:

Jason P said:

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

That sounds fair to me.

but his earned living doesnt have to be football. What was he going to do after he retired? RB longevity is brief at best in NFL.

Not sure what the question is. A year out is pretty substantial no matter what your earning capacity is in the NFL.

But one other thing should be taken into consideration. The fines for abuse go right into Roger Goodell's pocket book. It's pure profit for the NFL. That money (as well as all the pink jersey sales that the NFL make during breast cancer awareness month) should go directly to the non-profit organizations that the NFL claim to support.

The NFL makes a shitload of money pretending that they care about women's breast cancer. It expands their base and they only send a small fraction of profit back to the cause.

wall232

mickeyrat said:

Jason P said:

wall232 said:

josevolution said:

yeah big problem for the NFL & commish who by the way has handle this issue atrociously at best he needs to go ....it should be Zero tolerance you punch your wife girlfriend kids or who ever you should be banned for life .......

I don't think they should be banned for life. Suspended a year and forced to seek counseling yes, they have a right to make a living. Is there no second chance for Rice? Vick got a second chance, he tortured and brutalized animals and people are running around wearing his jersey today. They are people who fight for murders and rapist to get a second chance, so why can't Rice or anyone else in his position?

That sounds fair to me.

but his earned living doesnt have to be football. What was he going to do after he retired? RB longevity is brief at best in NFL.

He would have earned enough not to have to worry about working again, he probably already has made more than most of us will in a lifetime in his few playing years. I still don't think he should be banned for life, what he did was despicable but I feel he deserves a second chance after he completes counseling.