The NFL's database on arrests by USA Today and Domestic Violence is frightening. Since the database was started in 2000, there have been nearly 100 arrests for domestic violence, with players handcuffed for assaulting their wives or girlfriends. Heck, the most recent one on the board is LA Rams' defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks, who was arrested for bruises to his girlfriend after a child custody dispute.
The biggest examples in recent memory from both the NFL and college football are:
(Deep breath) Yes. If a player has been found guilty of his crimes, has paid for his crime - in Johnson's case it was getting kicked out of Florida State and having to go and play at East Mississippi Community College (he played for a year) and in Mixon's case it was not playing football for OU for a year and getting 100 hours community service (you wonder what that would have been if both players weren't football players), then they should get another chance. Although I would have loved Rice, Johnson and Mixon to all go to jail for their crimes (all three of them didn't), they were all punished by their school - even if it is still unfathomable how Mixon even stayed in Norman with his behavior.
The biggest examples in recent memory from both the NFL and college football are:
- Ray Rice punching his girlfriend in an elevator in 2014 that saw him arrested, released by the Baltimore Ravens, given a NFL ban and despite both he and his girlfriend explaining that everything had been put behind them, he has never played in the NFL since then. He has received some money as part of a settlement with the Ravens after suing them but nothing near what he would continue to have gained had he still played.
- On a college level, there's De'Andre Johnson, who was committed to join Florida State before a video in a bar captured him punching a woman in the face. He went to play in junior college and will now go and play at Florida Atlantic until Lane Kiffin (who some people believe is Evil Himself). Johnson has shown nothing but regret for the incident. In effect, Johnson's been given a second chance by FAU to prove what he has, and the hopes and prayers of his family and community are that he is brilliant and gets the chance to play in the NFL.
Here's Johnson's punch:
But the question that's been buzzing around my head has been in relation to Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who was suspended during his first season with the team for punching a woman in a cafe.
Mixon was suspended for the 2014 season, but was let back for the 2015 season, was suspended for another game in 2016 for being 'getting into it' with a parking officer, and played excellently for the rest of his college career. It's still hard to believe that Mixon didn't get booted out of Oklahoma altogether after the incident, like Johnson was. It's hard to fathom how stupid the decision was by OU head coach Bob Stoops. I don't think there are many coaches who would have stood by the behavior.
The running back set off the Twittersphere, with people saying that Mixon should never have played for OU again - let alone play in the NFL. Their line? "We shouldn't give someone who hits a woman a second chance".
Mixon then didn't help himself by yelling at a female traffic officer in 2016, making people AGAIN ask the question: 'Why hasn't Stoops kicked him out?" Instead, Stoops suspended him for one game, and Mixon came back to becoming a key to what was an excellent season for the Sooners.
The NFL banned Mixon from its Combine, bringing up its law that anyone who had been in trouble with the police would not be invited to The Big (And Pointless) Workout. Mixon performed at OU for a few other teams two days after, and will probably end up making some good money. Because of his actions and subsequent 'character issues', but he'll certainly be in a job come September.
But the question (again) is this: Should he be able to play and be given those chances?
Mixon then didn't help himself by yelling at a female traffic officer in 2016, making people AGAIN ask the question: 'Why hasn't Stoops kicked him out?" Instead, Stoops suspended him for one game, and Mixon came back to becoming a key to what was an excellent season for the Sooners.
The NFL banned Mixon from its Combine, bringing up its law that anyone who had been in trouble with the police would not be invited to The Big (And Pointless) Workout. Mixon performed at OU for a few other teams two days after, and will probably end up making some good money. Because of his actions and subsequent 'character issues', but he'll certainly be in a job come September.
But the question (again) is this: Should he be able to play and be given those chances?
(Deep breath) Yes. If a player has been found guilty of his crimes, has paid for his crime - in Johnson's case it was getting kicked out of Florida State and having to go and play at East Mississippi Community College (he played for a year) and in Mixon's case it was not playing football for OU for a year and getting 100 hours community service (you wonder what that would have been if both players weren't football players), then they should get another chance. Although I would have loved Rice, Johnson and Mixon to all go to jail for their crimes (all three of them didn't), they were all punished by their school - even if it is still unfathomable how Mixon even stayed in Norman with his behavior.
Why should they, the Righteous ask? Because I'm a believer in second chances. Maybe it's because I believe in forgiveness. Maybe it's because it's Easter time, because Jesus Christ preaches forgiveness, and also preached about not being a hypocrite (both of which I struggle to do!). Maybe it's because I truly believe that people can change. I CERTAINLY don't believe that what they did was right. But I CERTAINLY believe in a second chance.
