The NFL's Domestic Violence Problem Isn't Going Away

The NFL's Domestic Violence Problem Isn't Going Away

While researching this piece, I found a relevant article somewhere I would never think would carry such content. When tapping on the link to the ticket purchasing website clickitticket.com’s front page, you get a list of event locations and dates, recommendations on events happening near your home, and “competitive” prices for seating for said events (I used “event” way too much in that last sentence).

What I didn’t expect to find was that Click It Ticket had a blogging section for all of their listed shows, performers, and events. Articles ranged from performance reviews of a major pop star’s concerts, in-depth historical pieces on an instrument, and lists of hot or not celebrity couple; your basic entertainment, gossip rag-type content.

But then I stumbled upon a rather disturbing piece on NFL players. Specifically, an alphabetized list of NFL players who had been arrested for Domestic Abuse in the 21st century. There were 80 names listed on there, and it wasn’t even an updated list (last updated on March 27th of 2019). Reading through every entry, I was not only horrified by the severity of the crimes these so-called men had committed, but also the fact that they got second chances from other teams when they shouldn’t have.

Take defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, for example

Bernard was a fifth-round draft pick by the Seahawks in 2002-2008. According to the article, “At a Seattle nightclub… Bernard punched his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child. He struck her so hard that her head bounced off a glass divider. Afraid of the 300-pound defensive lineman, the victim and her friend fled the nightclub and into a friend’s vehicle. As the car fled, Bernard was seen punching its windows. He was arrested at 3 am.”

Bernard was suspended for the first game of the 2008 season but was released by the Seahawks. However, Bernard signed a four-year $16 million deal with the New York Giants and won Super Bowl XLVI with them in 2011.

Or what about offensive tackle Cornell Green?

In 2009, “… Green and the mother of his two children got into an argument that turned violent. Namely, Green slammed her against a wall. The lineman then struck the mother of his children in the arm with an aluminum mop handle. Green was eventually arrested at the Tampa International Airport.” His punishment? No NFL suspension and had to attend a diversion program and pay court costs. He also got the last chance to play with the Buffalo Bills before retiring after the 2010 season.

And then, there’s Tyreek Hill

In 2014, Hill was expelled from Oklahoma State’s football and track programs after he was brought up on domestic violence charges. Hill reportedly got into an argument with his pregnant girlfriend, Crystal Espinal, when he then, according to The Undefeated,  “…threw her like a ragdoll, punched her in the face, choked her… then sat on her and repeatedly punched her stomach.”

After pleading guilty to the assault and battery, Hill only got three years’ probation, took an anger-management course, a year-long batterers program, and underwent a domestic-abuse evaluation. Per USA Today, “After Hill completed a three-year probationary period, the conviction was dismissed from his record.”

Hill earned a place on the University of West Alabama Tigers’ roster. He excelled just enough to grab the attention of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted Hill in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

In three years with the Chiefs, Hill racked up over 3,000 receiving yards, 34 total touchdowns, three Pro Bowl nominations, and two First-team All-Pro selections.

During the 2019 NFL off-season, there were talks of Hill and the Chiefs working on signing him to the most significant contract for a wide receiver in NFL history.

Then, in March of 2019, Hill was under investigation by Overland Park Police Department for a battery incident involving Hill’s 3-year-old son. According to ESPN, “…officers in Overland Park, Kansas, were called to Hill's home on March 14 to investigate an alleged battery in which a juvenile was a victim. Hill was not listed in the report. Hill's fiancée, Crystal Espinal, was listed under ‘others involved.’” Hill’s son was found with a broken arm at the scene. But this wasn’t the first time officers were called on reports of child abuse to Hill’s residence, as they were called on March 5th, where Hill is listed on that report. But just like the March 14th case, the March 5th case was closed due to the prosecution declining to file charges.

There is so much to this story; from leaked audio tapes to lost custody of the child, to Hill’s letter to the NFL, pleading his innocence. It’s just too much to get into until we get all the facts straight.

Ban him. Now.

But one thing is for sure; no matter what the verdict is in this case, Tyreek Hill does not deserve another chance in professional football. He didn’t learn his lesson in 2014, what makes anyone think he still could?

It’s time the NFL did something definitive and harsh to players like Hill. They failed to enact any actual justice when came to Greg Hardy, Chad Johnson, Ray Rice, Ray Lewis, Ahman Green, Quincy Enunwa, Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, Reuben Foster and all others who’ve committed heinous acts like those mentioned above.

It’s not enough to suspend these guys for eight games or make them surrender their game checks. Outright banning them is the only course of action.

Keeping players like those mentioned above gives the NFL the unflattering image of a company that not only condones this behavior but ignores it completely. Hill is not an essential superstar to the league; there’s no reason to keep him around. Not for his popularity. Not for his on-field production. No excuse, by either the Chiefs or the NFL.

-By: Juan Pablo Guarin-Camargo