After NFL Draft, Blumenthal, Murphy, McCaskill Call on League to Hold Drafted Players Accountable Under Personal Conduct Policy

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wrote to National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell urging him to apply the League’s new personal conduct policy on domestic violence to recently-drafted players. Under the League’s personal conduct policy, an investigation is begun when a possible violation occurs; the Senators called on Commissioner Goodell to apply the same standard to draft picks with outstanding legal proceedings.

“In an effort to move past the domestic violence issues that arose in the wake of the Ray Rice videos last year, the NFL issued new League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior,” the Senators wrote. “We ask that you play a strong role in ensuring that the newly-issued League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior is strongly and evenly enforced and that the NFL is clear about its expectations for this incoming class and all players. Additionally, as the League’s new personal conduct policy calls for the NFL to launch its own investigation when it becomes aware of a possible violation, we ask that you launch such investigations into any recently drafted player with outstanding legal proceedings related to domestic violence violations. We also urge you to consider such cases that occurred before a player was drafted when determining appropriate discipline for any future violations of the league’s conduct policy by any NFL player.”

The Senators also expressed their concern about the dismissive nature in which NFL teams, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago Bears, responded to questions about possible domestic violence violations by their future players.

“Sadly, the progress the League made in announcing its new personal conduct policy has fallen on the deaf ears of NFL owners and front office personnel. When confronted with draft decisions, general managers and coaches – far from avoiding players with a history of domestic violence – chose to draft talent without consideration of a history of legal issues.”

Additionally, the Senators noted the League’s failure to execute commitments made in their attempts to remedy domestic violence problems, such as a multi-million dollar donation to the National Domestic Violence Hotline that has yet to be received.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Commissioner Goodell:

We write at the conclusion of the 2015 NFL draft, which moved 256 young men one step closer to realizing their dream of becoming professional athletes. In today’s media parlance, the words “character flaws” have become synonymous with accusations of domestic violence, sexual assault and theft when speaking about athletes. This year’s draft class had quite a few “flawed players.” By selecting such players, owners are elevating these young men to positions of leadership in their communities and making them into instant role models for countless young football fans.

In an effort to move past the domestic violence issues that arose in the wake of the Ray Rice videos last year, the NFL issued new League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior. We ask that you play a strong role in ensuring that the newly-issued League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior is strongly and evenly enforced and that the NFL is clear about its expectations for this incoming class and all players. Additionally, as the League’s new personal conduct policy calls for the NFL to launch its own investigation when it becomes aware of a possible violation, we ask that you launch such investigations into any recently drafted player with outstanding legal proceedings related to domestic violence violations. We also urge you to consider such cases that occurred before a player was drafted when determining appropriate discipline for any future violations of the league’s conduct policy by any NFL player.

Sadly, the progress the League made in announcing its new personal conduct policy has fallen on the deaf ears of NFL owners and front office personnel. When confronted with draft decisions, general managers and coaches – far from avoiding players with a history of domestic violence – chose to draft talent without consideration of a history of legal issues.

When asked about how seriously they consider off-the-field issues before making a draft pick, several teams brushed off concerns. In reference to rape allegations against Jameis Winston, this year’s number one draft pick, John Licht of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defended Winston by saying the team reviewed the depositions and, “we were not going to mistake charisma for character.” The Buccaneers did not contact the accuser or her attorney. A similar pattern appeared in Seattle, with the selection of Frank Clark, a player who was dismissed by the University of Michigan football team after allegations of domestic assault surfaced. In evaluating Clark, the Seahawks claim to have conducted “confidential interviews with people directly involved with the case,” but, according to the team’s own statement, they did not “speak directly to any witnesses from that night.”

The Chicago Bears also recently signed Ray McDonald, a player with multiple domestic violence allegations. When asked if the organization had spoken with any of the women involved in the allegations, owner George McCaskey said, “An alleged victim, I think – much like anybody else who has a bias in this situation – there’s a certain amount of discounting in what they have to say.”

Despite the League’s recent decision to voluntarily forego its non-profit tax status, the NFL and its member teams still enjoy many unique benefits such as the federal antitrust exemption and state and local tax incentives and subsidies. Thus, we fully believe the NFL has a responsibility to the public to ensure that the athletes, particularly those with ongoing investigations into domestic violence allegations, are held to a credible standard for off-the-field conduct.

Furthermore, while we have received communications from the NFL about some improvements in its response to character problems with its players, such as the 10-game suspension of new Dallas Cowboy Greg Hardy, other commitments that NFL made to the U.S. Senate still have not been followed through on. In a December 02, 2014 hearing, Troy Vincent committed that the NFL plans to donate $5 million a year for the next five years to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.  It has been nearly six months since that commitment was made, and there has been no announcement of any such donation. This omission raises questions as to whether the NFL is truly committed to addressing the scourge of domestic violence, along with the recent drafting of so many rookies with behavioral problems. We ask that the NFL strongly enforce its new policies and consider sanctions on owners who draft players with known personal conduct issues, but who fail to enforce team and league rules for such players.

Sincerely,

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