Cast your minds back through the crises to hit Australian sport over the year. The underarm delivery, Wayne Carey, and the ASADA investigations into Essendon and Cronulla are three that come to mind.
All gave rise to massive hits to the reputations of the respective sports in this country.
Now take the publicity these generated and multiply it exponentially. That gives an idea of just how much heat the NFL is under right now.
From the Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson cases, to the re-writing of the drug code, and a racism storm surrounding the Washington team retaining their Redskins nickname, the game is under the pump from all angles.
Sponsors are pulling out, or threatening to do so. Fans are questioning their love for the league for the first time ever.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is in danger of losing his job over the Ray Rice fiasco in particular.
The NFL must adopt a no-tolerance stance on these issues. It’s best for the sport and society that acts like this are no longer swept under the carpet.
Strong leadership is needed to get things back on track. If Goodell is not the man to provide this, he must fall on his sword.
The owners have a multi-billion dollar industry to protect and protect it they must.
In case you missed it, there is a season going on and it has been one heck of a season to date.
History tells us that about 10 per cent of teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs. Of the seven teams yet to win this year, three – New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs – made the playoffs a year ago.
They won’t all make it this time.
Of the three, the Saints were my tip to challenge for the Super Bowl from the NFC, while the Colts are hot favourites in the AFC South division. Both will make the playoffs.
The Saints are simply too good not to make the playoffs. Their losses, by a combined five points, have come on the road, albeit against teams that did not make the playoffs last year (Atlanta and Cleveland). They could just as easily be 2-0 and seemingly flying.
The Colts have lost both games to quality opposition (Denver and Philadelphia) and were just a couple of questionable referee calls away from securing the win over the Eagles on Monday night.
Both will get their first wins of the season this week against the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars respectively, and go on to make the playoffs, bucking the 10 per cent trend.
A loss for either however, could spell disaster and a complete re-think of playoff predictions.
Some key players – aside from Rice, Peterson and Hardy – are at the crossroads for various reasons.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning may not be in the Big Apple next season, along with his head coach and offensive coordinator, if his numbers do not improve quickly. While his 440 yards passing and three touchdowns through Week 2 aren’t bad, his four interceptions at two a week are bad and a worrying deterioration of a trend.
The same goes for Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. His three interceptions against San Francisco in Week 1 cost his team the game. His back continues to be a concern.
Week 3 will provide more insight into how these teams and players will fare for the year. Time is critical in a league where only 16 games are played.
It sure feels much better to talk about the on-field matters, doesn’t it?
Let’s hope for the sake of the league all these other matters are dealt with swiftly so we call get on with the football.
astro
Guest
Couldn't disagree with you more, Cameron. Firstly, this IS being used as a reflection of a wider problem in society. If not, we wouldn't be talking about domestic violence on a site like the Roar. And what is being discussed, is no 'witch hunt'. Rice is guilty. The video speaks for itself. He deserves all the criticism he gets, especially since he has shown almost no remorse or regret since the event. The public (not just the media) have every right to be outraged, and express that outrage. Secondly, maybe you need to examine your own beliefs and attitudes towards domestic violence, as it's thinking like yours that is part of the problem. Anyone who honestly can look at this incident, and place any part of the blame on Janay, needs to take a good hard look at themselves. She "was going to hit Ray?"...Really? If Ray had not "reacted"? ...So, this was self-defence? Seriously, comments like that are disgraceful and go to the very heart of this issue.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Ha! I thought the same thing about the underam bowling incident!
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Mushi, I would be surprised if I were not older than you, and I have never known a time when it was acceptable for a man to bash up his wife.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Must say as an avid NFL fan my enthusiasm has been curbed a little by these incidents. The acts by Rice and Peterson were appalling but the way it was handled by the NFL, Ravens and Vikings was an utter embarrasment and a blight on the game. This is the NFL, a Multi Billions dollar Business handling these issues like rank amatuers.The credibility of the NFL has taken a hit for sure. Goodell will probably keep his job as the owners like him, why because he drives the bus that generates them hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
" What made Ray Rice’s act seem bad was that it was caught on CCTV, and it looks awful. I dont know why she stayed with him." I would say it's money & security. " From what I understand,the Adrian Petersen issue is a storm in a tea cup, he disciplined his child the way he was raised." This is far from a storm in a teacup, this is physical abuse of a 4 year old which is abhorent and appalling. Peterson may have been raised that way as a kid which is also appalling but inexcusable. His son had marks on his arms several days later and apparently had a sore scrotum.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
As a husband and father of a daughter, domestic violence should not be tolerated or accepted. However in the USA there are 9000, yes you read that right, 9000 domestic violence cases a day. There is a death every day. Why should Ray Rice be treated any differently then those 9000? What he did was deplorable and should be unforgivable, however his treatment in the US media has been equally deplorable given the nation they live in. One thing I do love about the way the US and by virtue the world has reported domestic violence is that around 30% of domestic violence happens to a male. As a society we are quick to preach that is is unacceptable for a man to hit a woman yet what should make it okay for a woman to hit a man? In the Ray Rice incident Janay Rice nee. Palmer was going to hit Ray. If Ray had not reacted this would have been a domestic violence case of a woman on a man. Would that still be being reported in the same light? In a 2011 study America and Australia were rated as having medium levels of women's security. There are only a handful of European countries where women's security is deemed higher. Look at Asia, Africa and the middle east and women have either low security or no security. If the US really want to make a stand against women's violence they shouldn't focus solely on a minority of NFL players and would start reporting the real global problem that there is towards violence. If this was being used as a tool to highlight a global problem then I would be accepting of this media, instead it is just a witch hunt against a group of men and their character.
peeeko
Guest
one thing that i have noticed from three years in Chicago is that whilst these incidents do certainly get widespread coverage people still focus on the game compared to Australia. You dont hear the same complaints about player behaviour over here. not sure of the reason
KenAgain
Guest
Obviously not...which is why these things continue to occur despite being widely condemned. Shame as I agree it is a great game, with a lot of great stuff happening on field. What has taken place off the field deserves for more attention than a few boys chasing a pigskin. Men who do these sorts of things to women/children need to be locked up. Not admired or looked up to...
astro
Guest
"media hyped garbage"...really? You don't see any of these issues as serious?
Chris Meister
Roar Guru
Time will tell but I think it's far too early to count out the Saints. If they lose this week I will bend my view on this. Eli is definitely under the pump if the Giants have another bad season along with Coughin. Definitely a lot of great stories to cover and a lot more to come. the Falcons offense for one.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
If you think that New Orleans and Indy will both make the playoffs I have a small island to sell you. New Orleans are bumbling on defence and overrated on offence as they lack the explosiveness of past years. As for Indy, only one team from the AFC South is making the playoffs and they are now two games behind Houston who have a fourth place schedule against Indy who are on a first place sked. Clearly did not watch the Giants game last weekend as Eli was INCREDIBLE. Save from a first drive pick and a meaningless late pick he made practically every pass. New York have more worries in their receiving core where big names can't make simple catches. As for Romo, as much as he took the blame for the first up loss he wasn't the only thing that sucked for Dallas that weekend. For me there are a lot of other great stories that have not been touched on: Baltimore's resilience on a short week to overcome a division rival when all anyone wanted to talk about was Rice. Buffalo saluting their famous father with a stunning performance on defence and on the ground. Carolina's proof that defence does not regress and that they will be a contender based on what fantasy does not measure. Chicago showing the explosive offensive flair with three straight touchdowns on the pack of help from their D. Green Bay's early struggles and continued unhealthy reliance on number 12. Houston perhaps unearthing a defensive MVP winner with JJ Watt and his shiny new contract. New England looking like having their most dynamic defence in years to support wily veteran Brady. Great stories on field. Ignore the off field media hyped garbage and this is as great a season as ever possibly. Bring on week 3!
Chris Meister
Roar Guru
Well said Mushi
mushi
Guest
Tigranes "the way I was raised" is the worst justification ever. If everyone held the view of just adhering to the "way I was raised" then a large part of the NFL wouldn't be allowed to play professional sport. Hell giving your wife a little seeing to was once considered the right of a man, thankfully we moved on surely we can do the same with 4 year olds?
Chris Meister
Roar Guru
Completely agree on Robert Lui, he shouldn't be playing either. As for Paterson attitudes to how we discipline our kids these days have changed.
Chris Meister
Roar Guru
Thanks for that Anthony it was over the years. Just trying to illustrate just how big this is
Anthony
Guest
Wayne Carey this year? Did I miss something, Chris?
Tigranes
Guest
I would argue that what Robert Lui did was probably worse than any of the things you mentioned. Whilst a lot of people were shocked at the time, it seems that Lui has been able to improve his act. What made Ray Rice's act seem bad was that it was caught on CCTV, and it looks awful. I dont know why she stayed with him. From what I understand,the Adrian Petersen issue is a storm in a tea cup, he disciplined his child the way he was raised.