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  • Ray McDonald Arrested As NFL Works To Repair Image

    The events of the past few weeks have shined a rather uncomfortable light on both the National Football League and all sports fans.

    Many fans find themselves forced to review how highly they prioritize being entertained by people worshiped as heroes and demigods. They have also confronted the reality that these individuals are human and often fallible.

    Sometimes these players are fallible in ways that make ANY positive support offered to them, on or off the field, utterly tasteless.

    Most importantly, NFL fans are now examining the terrible example long set by the league as to how NFL players guilty of criminal and deviant behaviors are treated.

    The league has long been criticized for hypocrisy, inefficiency, and even accused of being far too forgiving of criminal offenders within their ranks.

    Fortunately the back-to-back domestic abuse scandals involving Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, and now Ray McDonald have forced the NFL to act, and act immediately.

    With this light shining so brightly on how the National Football League treats such serious and disturbing matters, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was left with no alternative but to update the league’s policies regarding acts of domestic violence.

    Players found guilty of a single act of domestic violence will be banned for six weeks. A second offense results in banishment from the league. It is possible for the player to petition for reinstatement, but he must wait a full year.

    San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested a few weeks ago for an incident of domestic violence involving his fiance. She showed bruises to police that she alleged were caused by McDonald.

    It’s not known how the 49ers will respond in the future, but they have not moved to remove the player from their roster and he is presently available to play. His situation has come into the spotlight thanks in large part due to the Ray Rice controversy.

    In the meantime these incidents and the response by NFL teams and the league itself will continue to be a source of major contention and discussion.

    Since domestic violence is a topic that few people willingly participate in, these events are good for bringing this serious and widespread problem to the attention of a much larger global audience.

  • Ray McDonald To Face Domestic Violence Charges

    San Jose, California, police arrested the San Francisco 49ers’ starting defensive end Ray McDonald on Sunday on felony domestic violence charges.

    The arrest comes just three days after the National Football League’s new domestic violence policy was implemented by Commissioner Roger Goodell.

    Police were called at around 2:48 a.m. on Sunday morning to a reported domestic violence incident. McDonald was taken into custody after the domestic violence allegation was substantiated. According to CNN, there were several of McDonald’s teammates at his house when he was arrested.

    The league is aware of the arrest and said that they are still trying to figure out exactly what happened before they take any action.

    “The 49ers organization is aware of the recent reports regarding Ray McDonald and we take such matters seriously. As we continue to gather the facts, we will reserve further comment,” team General Manager Trent Baalke said in a statement.

    McDonald was able to post bail quickly and was released from jail a short time after his arrest. Although he couldn’t discuss the charges, he did make a statement about them saying,

    “The truth will come out. Everybody knows what kind of person I am….a good-hearted person.”

    McDonald has been arrested before, once for a DUI and a second time for an outstanding warrant that stemmed from his DUI charges.

    The league’s new domestic violence policy enforces a six-game unpaid ban for personnel who violate the league’s policy.

    Anyone who is found guilty of domestic violence charges for a second time will be banned from the league permanently.

    The NFL Players Association has responded to the new penalties

    “We were informed [Thursday] of the NFL’s decision to increase penalties on domestic violence offenders under the Personal Conduct Policy for all NFL employees. As we do in all disciplinary matters, if we believe that players’ due process rights are infringed upon during the course of discipline, we will assert and defend our members’ rights,” said the association’s statement.