With these incidents, the NFL has basically said fuck you to women, Native Americans, and modern-day drug awareness and education. When it comes down to it, you have three wrong-doers residing on very different points along the moral spectrum: An openly vocal, ignorant racist, a wife beater, and a dude who really loves weed. Now, the NFL, much like the NBA, has indeed laid the hammer down in one of these instances...on the guy who really loves weed. For decades (more like centuries) marijuana has had an egregiously negative stigma associated with it and its users. Thankfully, we're living in a time when drug education and research is beginning to challenge the long-standing public image and negative rhetoric on marijuana. I could debate for days about the various dangers of marijuana versus alcohol, yet alcohol is so engrained in our lives and such a common commodity, it's like trying to change someone's political views through logical argument. You eventually wind up storming out and hitting up the nearest bar to calm your rage. I've personally witnessed friends and family members abuse and become addicted to alcohol and marijuana, and in no galaxy could anyone convince me that weed is the more harmful, destructive, life-ruining drug. Marijuana certainly has it's negatives and should not be given carte blanche, I'll be the first to admit it, but the stereotypes and stigma are certainly more harmful than most of the actual physical repercussions.
Back to the topic...the NFL has laid the hammer down on Josh Gordon, with his current suspension looking likely to take him out of action for the entire upcoming NFL season. Daniel Snyder? He still owns the Redskins, still refuses to acknowledge the racial connotations and issues associated with the term, and is the last vestige of American sports organizations using these Native American slurs. Leading us to Ray Rice...he was caught on tape dragging his unconscious fiance's body out of an elevator in Atlantic City after cold-cocking her in the face when she, according to many male media pundits, provoked him and instigated the argument. How may games is he suspended? Two. Two games. Two fucking games (Albert Haynesworth received a 4 game ban for stomping on the head of an opposing player DURING A GAME). It's absurd; it's backwards; it's disgusting. ESPN recently suspended Stephen A. Smith one week for his comments regarding his opinion on female provocation and their role in instigating domestic violence...at least they took immediate action, but it took Stephen two attempts at backtracking and clarifying his remarks to actually get him to understand that each time he was digging himself a bigger hole and making himself look more misogynistic with every word. It's actually pretty painful to watch.
Roger Goodell had an opportunity to show the world where the NFL's priorities lie, and instead he shat in the face of one of his targeted fan bases: young women. Josh Gordon's incident was considered a third strike, thus warranting stricter suspension than the usual four-game ban for first-time offenders. I have no problem with suspending a player who clearly needs psychological help for an addiction prohibiting him from fulfilling his professional duties...any worker in any workplace would hope to receive some sort of support and professional help (although if this dude is catching 2 td's and going for 120 yards every game while high as a fucking kite on performance-reducing drugs, I'm guessing every other team's defensive coordinators are hoping he continues rocking out with Bob Marley). So, if I'm okay with Gordon's lengthy suspension, I am absolutely not okay with Ray Rice's slap on the wrist. The message you're sending to every young player out there is this: well, you can kind of kick the shit out of your girlfriend (as long as you go to minimal counseling, marry her and she takes a boat load of your money in exchange for shutting up), you certainly cannot smoke weed and play in this league. That message is so astoundingly backwards you'd think Roger Goodell's combover looks at Donald Trump and says, "Damn, now where does HE get his hair done?"
I, for one, want kids. Certainly not at this stage in my life, but I do know that I want to be a father at some point. In no way, shape, or form would I ever be supportive or understanding of them committing domestic violence, male or female...I could certainly be supportive in helping them deal with marijuana abuse or addiction. When I'm teaching my kids about how to behave and treat people in this world, I'm hoping to everything holy that the biggest issue in their lives are marijuana related. Josh Gordon is a kid who needs some guidance, Ray Rice is a piece of shit being rewarded by the media and NFL leadership, because to them women don't matter, they can be silenced. The NFL gets away with a lot, but these issues continue to be piling up and are becoming more frequent and disturbing. In this day and age of increasing gender/sexuality/racial equality, the NFL can only say "Fuck you, we're the NFL. We don't care about moral progress or changing societal norms" for so long. Eventually, the toilet is going to get clogged and the shit will runneth over. Take a page out of the NBA's playbook and lay the hammer down on Ray Rice, make him an example. These types of people pander with apology press conferences and then receive standing ovations upon return to training camp, not understanding the deeper consequences of their actions and their lack of remorse and punishment. With the power and range of effect the NFL has on the United States, changing their violence policies and reforming their drug education and abuse programs would be a major signal of intent and step in the right direction.
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