Post by Guvmintcheeze on Nov 18, 2014 21:08:49 GMT
Roger Goodell protects turf, not victims, with Adrian Peterson suspension
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports
Vengeance isn't justice, no matter how Roger Goodell tries to cloak it.
The NFL commissioner didn't "get it right" by suspending Adrian Peterson for the rest of the season without pay for abusing his 4-year-old son. He was unduly punitive. He was patronizing. He was petty.
Worst, Goodell showed that despite all those experts he's brought in and the listening sessions he's had, he and the NFL still don't have a clue on how to address domestic violence. And they don't really care to, or they would have shelved their egos two months ago and sat down with the NFLPA to come up with a policy that combines protection for the victims, incentive to rehabilitate for the offenders and compassion and support for all involved.
In other words, a policy that works. Not this make-it-up-on-the-fly model that only hardens the battle lines with the NFLPA and leaves the people who matter most – abuse victims – vulnerable.
Let's be clear: What Peterson did in whipping his young son was reprehensible. There is never any excuse for beating a child so severely it leaves welts and bruises on the little boy's body, and Peterson should to be held accountable.
The legal system already has. The Minnesota Vikings running back was put on probation, fined and ordered to undergo a parenting assessment and, if needed, counseling after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of reckless assault two weeks ago.
Additional punishment from the NFL is appropriate, too. The league has turned a blind eye to domestic violence and sexual assault for too long, and it has to show outraged fans, concerned sponsors and its own players and personnel that abuse in any form will no longer be tolerated.
A retroactive suspension for the games Peterson has already missed, coupled with mandatory therapy and parenting classes and the threat of further discipline if he did not show progress, would have gotten that message across.
But that wasn't enough for Goodell who, despite saying in September that "nothing was off the table," has no interest in giving up any of his power, even if it's for the greater good. As bad as Peterson's initial crime was, his refusal to accept Goodell as all powerful, like the NFL's version of the Wizard of Oz, was deemed by the commissioner to be equally unforgivable.
"The well-being of your children is of paramount concern," Goodell wrote in his lecture, err, letter. "In the absence of speaking to you to understand your current disposition toward child discipline, we cannot be sure that this conduct will not be repeated.
FOR THE WIN
Adrian Peterson was suspended for disrespecting the NFL, not abusing his son
"Moreover, we are unaware of any effort on your part to acknowledge the seriousness of your conduct and your responsibility to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change."
Perhaps Goodell should take a closer look at those last few words, because he hasn't, either.
In banning Peterson, Goodell has picked yet another fight with the union and delayed meaningful change for months, maybe years. It did nothing to encourage women to step forward when they're being abused, and did even less to encourage players to seek help.
The end goal in all of this was supposed to be protecting women and children, not egos and territory.
Nancy Armour, USA TODAY Sports
Vengeance isn't justice, no matter how Roger Goodell tries to cloak it.
The NFL commissioner didn't "get it right" by suspending Adrian Peterson for the rest of the season without pay for abusing his 4-year-old son. He was unduly punitive. He was patronizing. He was petty.
Worst, Goodell showed that despite all those experts he's brought in and the listening sessions he's had, he and the NFL still don't have a clue on how to address domestic violence. And they don't really care to, or they would have shelved their egos two months ago and sat down with the NFLPA to come up with a policy that combines protection for the victims, incentive to rehabilitate for the offenders and compassion and support for all involved.
In other words, a policy that works. Not this make-it-up-on-the-fly model that only hardens the battle lines with the NFLPA and leaves the people who matter most – abuse victims – vulnerable.
Let's be clear: What Peterson did in whipping his young son was reprehensible. There is never any excuse for beating a child so severely it leaves welts and bruises on the little boy's body, and Peterson should to be held accountable.
The legal system already has. The Minnesota Vikings running back was put on probation, fined and ordered to undergo a parenting assessment and, if needed, counseling after pleading no contest to a reduced charge of reckless assault two weeks ago.
Additional punishment from the NFL is appropriate, too. The league has turned a blind eye to domestic violence and sexual assault for too long, and it has to show outraged fans, concerned sponsors and its own players and personnel that abuse in any form will no longer be tolerated.
A retroactive suspension for the games Peterson has already missed, coupled with mandatory therapy and parenting classes and the threat of further discipline if he did not show progress, would have gotten that message across.
But that wasn't enough for Goodell who, despite saying in September that "nothing was off the table," has no interest in giving up any of his power, even if it's for the greater good. As bad as Peterson's initial crime was, his refusal to accept Goodell as all powerful, like the NFL's version of the Wizard of Oz, was deemed by the commissioner to be equally unforgivable.
"The well-being of your children is of paramount concern," Goodell wrote in his lecture, err, letter. "In the absence of speaking to you to understand your current disposition toward child discipline, we cannot be sure that this conduct will not be repeated.
FOR THE WIN
Adrian Peterson was suspended for disrespecting the NFL, not abusing his son
"Moreover, we are unaware of any effort on your part to acknowledge the seriousness of your conduct and your responsibility to demonstrate a genuine commitment to change."
Perhaps Goodell should take a closer look at those last few words, because he hasn't, either.
In banning Peterson, Goodell has picked yet another fight with the union and delayed meaningful change for months, maybe years. It did nothing to encourage women to step forward when they're being abused, and did even less to encourage players to seek help.
The end goal in all of this was supposed to be protecting women and children, not egos and territory.