Traynor: The NFL Has a Problem
The consistent failure of the National Football League and the football industry in general to hold its players and representatives to a higher standard is tragic. Recently, the Ray Rice domestic violence scandal and allegations of child abuse against Adrian Peterson have spurred these failures into the foreground. The frequency and severity of these incidents speak volumes about the current state of the league — an organization that once had such honorable figures as Vince Lombardi, Joe Montana and Joe Namath. While the NFL has continued to make more and more money through TV deals and endorsements, the league’s character has not risen in kind. While public outcry encouraged the NFL to increase Rice’s punishment, football fans must continue demanding a higher standard of character from the sport’s representatives — and heavier repercussions for those professional athletes who betray the public’s trust.