Violence by NFL Athletes

Should players involved in domestic disputes be permanently suspended?

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The latest scandal news in the NFL has come to the big city of Dallas, Texas. Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys defensive end, has made headlines in the past weeks after pictures emerged of Hardy’s ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder’s bruises and injuries. Hardy had been suspended for four games by the NFL in the beginning of the season, but now after the images surfaced from the website Deadspin, a lot of people are calling for Greg Hardy’s release from the Cowboys.

   I’m one of those people calling for his release. For me, it makes no sense as to why Greg Hardy is on an NFL roster. I understand that there is a judicial aspect to the suspension services and such, but there was one for the Ray Rice incident also. And where is Ray Rice now? He’s not on an NFL roster, and no teams are courting him for his services. Ray Rice will certainly be defined by this issue, and will probably never make it on an NFL roster again. Why is Greg Hardy different?

   He shouldn’t be. The NFL supposedly has a “no tolerance policy” like many other professional sporting leagues to domestic violence. After the Ray Rice incident, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell swore to tighten up punishments on domestic violence issues.

   Judicially, Goodell did that. I’m not angry at Goodell for Greg Hardy still being on an NFL roster. Goodell has done all he could, as he suspended Hardy for four regular season games. However, now it seems like it should be the Dallas Cowboys turn. Even a good number of Cowboys fans, who some might say are the most stubborn fans in the NFL, have commented on NFL.com’s posts to get rid of Greg Hardy.

    I’m with those fans. It really doesn’t make sense to me at all to why Greg Hardy is on an NFL roster. Another thing too is that it seems he has no remorse for what happened. He’s called Holder a “sex-crazed fan” and painted himself to be a victim with the help of his lawyers. At least Ray Rice is now going around using his platform to prevent domestic violence.

   Another thing that really doesn’t make sense to why he’s even playing this season is a compare and contrast. The NFL says they have a strict no tolerance policy with domestic violence, but he’s still being paid and even playing primetime football. Meanwhile, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is sitting at his house, not playing this NFL season because he “tested positive for alcohol use.” Gordon is 24-years old. Who cares if he tested positive for alcohol use. That doesn’t harm anyone, but maybe Gordon himself. Meanwhile, Greg Hardy is going around beating up women and throwing them against bathtubs and still playing in the NFL.

    If the NFL really has a no tolerance policy for domestic violence, they should ban Greg Hardy from the NFL. The Cowboys organization, which is an organization I’ve never really cared for because of Jerry Jones, must obviously think domestic violence is okay since they have Hardy on their roster. It makes no sense to me to why Hardy is on an NFL roster. It’s also disgusting that he’s making 11 million dollars with the Cowboys.

   Hardy’s contract with the Cowboys is done after this season, and according to his contract he cannot be franchise tagged. If the NFL and any other NFL team has any common sense, they should let Hardy wander off into his own little sunset and never play a game in the NFL ever again.