Seth Vigdor
It’s Dallas week in Philadelphia and just about all of the talk about this game has revolved around Greg Hardy. A few days ago, Deadspin released the battered and bruised photos of Hardy’s ex, Nicole Holder, from the infamous incident the night Hardy abused and threatened to kill her. For most normal human beings, they didn’t need to see those photos to realize what a piece of trash Hardy is and forever will be. For most, those photos are just a reminder of the scum that he is, but there’s also a portion of the people out there who subconsciously needed to see the photos to eventually hammer home just how big a deal this was, and still is. This issue has always been about more than just football. It’s about what’s right and what’s wrong. As we head into Sunday Night Football tonight featuring the Eagles and Cowboys, we’re reminded that a rich, entitled owner named Jerry Jones doesn’t give a shit about anything other than winning a Super Bowl. Sensitive to domestic violence? Embarrassing. But, let’s also not forget who’s actually to blame for the fact that Greg Hardy is still in the league.
There it is! As of April 27, 2015, Commissioner Goodell gets it, or so he’d like you to believe. If Roger Goodell truly understood just how serious domestic violence is and the impact that it has on society, then why in the world is Greg Hardy still in the league? I’ll tell you why. It’s because Goodell doesn’t truly get it. What he does get is to how to run a business to line the pockets of his and 32 other already richer than rich men, with even more money. Roger Goodell made about $44 million dollars last year. For what? The President of the United States makes no where near that much money. Roger Goodell is essentially a bubble boy. His job is protected by a shield of 32 owners whose backs he scratches in return for his job security. If anyone of those owners had a soul, they would’ve stood up to Goodell for his lack of testicular fortitude on the domestic violence front a long time ago. [Editor’s note: Jeffrey Lurie would’ve been a great one to spearhead the movement given how uncomfortable he seemed with the Eagles signing Michael Vick. Now… nothing.] Let’s take a look at some pictures from an orchestrated lie by Goodell and the NFL. Who remembers these from a series of NFL commercials that aired shortly after the Ray Rice incident?
No More!
No More!
I don’t blame any of the players that were in those commercials, but Roger Goodell and the NFL thought that they had us fooled with them. Those players were just pawns in Roger Goodell’s sick, twisted little game.
Again, it’s November and Greg Hardy is still in the league. I’ve heard many people say that Hardy went through the legal process and to that I say, so what? Roger Goodell is the commissioner of the NFL. If he really wanted scumbags like Greg Hardy gone from the league, they’d be gone. But, if he actually grew some balls overnight and did that, the owners would have a tantrum and push back on Goodell, Therefore, he does as little as possible because he doesn’t want to make the Robert Kraft’s and Jerry Jones’ of the world upset.
In September of 2014, sixteen female senators called for a real “zero tolerance” policy.
The letter dated Sept. 11, 2014 and penned by Senators: Kay Hagan, Susan Collins, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Mikulski. Barbara Boxer Tammy Baldwin, Dianne Feinstein, Debbie Stabenow, Kelly Ayotte, Jeanne Shaheen, Kirsten Gillibrand, Heidi Heitkamp, Mazie Hirono, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray read:
“Dear Commissioner Goodell:
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, we call on the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence that will ensure that this type of violence and abuse has no place in the NFL.
We were shocked and disgusted by the images we saw this week of one of your players violently assaulting his now-wife and knocking her unconscious, and at new reports that the NFL may have received this video months ago. Tragically, this is not the only case of an NFL player allegedly assaulting a woman even within the last year.
We are deeply concerned that the NFL’s new policy, announced last month, would allow a player to commit a violent act against a woman and return after a short suspension. If you violently assault a woman, you shouldn’t get a second chance to play football in the NFL.
The NFL’s current policy sends a terrible message to players, fans and all Americans that even after committing a horrific act of violence, you can quickly be back on the field.
It is long past time for the NFL to institute a real zero-tolerance policy and send a strong message that the league will not tolerate violence against women by its players, who are role models for children across America. We hope the NFL will seize this opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to the safety of women and families.”
In response to that, Goodell announced the NFL’s “landmark” zero tolerance policy, by suspending Hardy for 10 games in April of this year. Goodell told USA Today Sports, “With the amount of information we now have at our disposal, it’s revolutionary.” Revolutionary, he says. It should say embarrassing. Zero tolerance to me means zero tolerance. To me, it’s one strike and you’re done. But that’s just little ol’ me (and a million other normal humans) thinking that. As is the case with every weak NFL suspension, Hardy’s 10-game ban was reduced to 4 games.
Goodell’s league rules are bullshit.
This picture of Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams looks innocent, right? Not to the NFL commish. That writing on the eye black in support of his mother’s battle with cancer cost Williams $5,757.
The purple cleats that William Gay has been wearing are official Vikings cleats. But because he plays for the Steelers, it cost him $5,787. Why was he wearing purple cleats you ask? His mother was killed in an act of domestic violence. The last two Octobers, he’s worn them to bring attention to domestic violence. At a price of $5,787.
Are you serious? It sounds to me like there’s zero tolerance with violating the league’s dress code. But to hell with it, if a NFL player beats a woman up, you get a minor suspension [and, yes, even 10 games is minor] where you get to go out and perform in shitty rap videos like this nonsense Hardy was in while suspended: [Warning: NSFW]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iuEBqDZbI
Both the song and Hardy are pure garbage.
Watch Goodell’s domestic violence press conference below from September of last year and ask yourself afterwards if he’s followed through on any of the nonsense that that he spoke about.
He said in that press conference and I quote, “The same mistakes cannot be repeated.” A year later they were repeated and either he’s a total liar, he’s totally incompetent or both. Whatever the case may be, I think most rational people can agree that Goodell should be out of a job because he’s a gutless coward, who only cares about the color green.