The men you watch on Sundays are a few things: big, strong, and
violent. Each characteristic has been a contributing factor to their entrance
into the National Football League (the country’s biggest athletic entertainment
field). However, when the game clock zeroes out and the uniforms come off, these
traits can turn dangerous.
Research into criminal issues among NFL players reveals a
sizeable list of sexual assault cases, domestic violence, and various other
charges. Jeff Benedict and Don Yeager1 revealed 109 of 509 NFL athletes
had been charged with “serious crimes,” totaling 264 arrests. More interesting
than any of these numbers is the fact, as Schwartz pointed out, that only one
athlete is said to have felt the repercussions of his misconduct: Art
Schichter, whose vice was gambling2.
The NFL culture is one that believes in the “right to redemption”
2 and the mindset that a guy who performs well on the field will always
find a place on the roster. The front office is much more inclined to see the
remedial options for a guy who is presumed to be a game changer. When off-the-field
problems stack up, the occasional breaking point will be reached by an
organization. But never fear, that player will eventually be courted by the
other 31 teams willing to rehabilitate him.
This trend is not new. While the owners and check-writers
continue on with rehabilitation and extra chances, the question lies in what
the fans will continue to allow. Are we ready to accept football as a form of
entertainment rather than a platform for morality? Do we still love these big
guys when we realize that approximately one in five of them have a criminal
past?
1 Bendict, J., Yaeger, D. (1998). Pros and cons: The criminals who play in the
NFL. New York,
NY: Warner Books.
2 Schwartz, M. D. (2000). Pros and
Cons: The Criminals Who Play in the NFL. Crossing the Line: Violence and Sexual
Assault in Canada's National Sport. Sociology
of Sport Journal, 17(3), 297-299.
I cannot believe that many NFL players have been arrested! You do see a lot in the media, but there is clearly much more going on then people see. The fans definitely need to start holding these athletes accountable. These are the people the youth are looking up too and they need positive role models to teach them how to act on and off the field.
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