What is happening in the NFL?

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Now that the media storm surrounding the NFL has died down I can talk logically about what happened. Well as everyone knows by now the Ray Rice video was released of him beating his wife inside the elevator (Caution: Video is graphic). That stirred up controversy right away and many people wanted him out of the NFL. Since then Rice has been suspended by the league indefinitely. The big question that people across the country keep asking is did the NFL already see this video? And if they didn't why did it take so long for them to see it? 

I find it hard to believe that the NFL never saw the footage that was released by TMZ. NFL is a multi-billion dollar corporation and should have had some way to get there hands on that tape. Also the police were involved in the investigation so between the NFL and the police department someone must have had seen this video. Now with that said many believe at first that Ray Rice's punishment wasn't enough for what he did in the first place. Remember the public only saw what happened outside the elevator and many felt based on the footage alone he should have been suspended about half of the season. Well the NFL took to lightly to the situation only giving Rice a two game suspension. That has come back to bite the NFL in the you know what.

So not long after this Rice video is shown publicly, Adrian Peterson starts popping up all over the news for child abuse. There have been reports of child abuse in the past from Peterson, but all have been brushed away. This time Peterson is caught in the middle of the media fire that Rice started up. There is also picture proof of what Peterson did to his kid and it is by no means okay. Keep in mind his child is only 4 years of age. According to many reports Peterson punishing his kid the way he did comes from a difference in background. What Peterson failed to understand is that he lives in a different generation. Physical punishments are unacceptable by the public which is why this put a bad image on the NFL. 

Domestic violence issues started occurring everywhere as soon as this happened. Greg Hardy has been put on the NFL exempt list until his legal issues are resolved. Ray McDonald, defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers was also brought up on domestic violence charges about a month ago and has not been punished in any way. McDonald has been in the 49ers lineup since the season began. 

Roger Goodell has addressed the media and the fans about the issue. Goodell apologized to the public for the issues surrounding the NFL and he was also sorry for how he handled the Ray Rice case. I'm not sure how many people bought the apology, but I know that one more slip up could cost the NFL big time. 

As of late the NFL has been fairly quiet on the issues that are going on off the field which is good.