Dear Roger Goodell,

Let me introduce myself—my name is Maggie. I am a college sophomore, a student-athlete and from western New York. Now before you get the idea in your head that I am some football-hating woman, let me give you my background. I am 19 years old and was born and raised on football. My dad was a coach for twenty plus years at the high school I attended. Growing up I spent my autumn weekends watching football. I learned at a young age that Friday nights were for varsity football games, Saturday was designated for college and of course, Sundays were for the big leagues, aka, the NFL. My dad, bless his heart, is the father of three girls. Which means no sons to teach the game to, but that didn’t stop him. I was always very interested. I learned to draw up plays on my dad’s old Palm Pilot before I learned my multiplication tables. I knew that Sam, Mike, and Will weren’t people, but rather “strong side,” “middle” and “weak side” linebackers. Daddy/Daughter bonding outings meant me going to scout next week’s opposing team, and I loved every second of it. Still, to this day, I would define myself as an avid football watcher, or enthusiast. So no, I am not a football-hating woman. One of my dad’s main jobs as a football coach was to teach character, but how is he supposed to teach character when the next level doesn’t promote it? The National Football League doesn’t glorify being a good man. The role models these boys have to look up to are not respecting women.

This is where you come in Mr. Commissioner. Domestic violence is an epidemic in the National Football League that is not being addressed properly. You have quite a platform and an immense amount of power associated with your position. The NFL had over 100 million people watch the 2016 Super Bowl, just one football game, not mention the many people that go to games each Sunday or watch from their living room. You have America’s attention, we are all looking at you. So I am writing to you today from a football loving, female’s perspective. I am calling you take a stand.

Mr. Goodell, you are the man in charge, the head honcho, and you are merely a puppet. You watch from your position of authority as YOUR employees continuously are involved in domestic violence cases. You ignore these issues and sweep them under the rug. You slap them on the wrist with a few game suspension, and then before we know it they are back out on those fields. As long as they are padding your paycheck right? Greg Hardy, Ray Rice, the list goes on and on. In your “investigations” you comb over photos of bruised women and videos of them being dragged unconscious in elevators, and you hand out weak suspensions, a slap on the wrist, a “bad boy don’t do it again.” This mentality makes me sick.

Hey Mr. Commisioner, what about a zero-tolerance policy? You hit your wife/girlfriend? Sayonara and good riddance! How on earth can you sleep at night knowing that some of these men represent your company? According to Outside The Lines, between 2000-2014 your league had 48 players considered guilty of domestic violence. In 88% of those cases, players were suspended for one game or not at all.

You, Mr. Commissioner, saw video evidence of Ray Rice in that elevator, and initially gave him a two-game suspension. Did you watch the same video I did? That disgusts me. An expert psychologist, Lem Burnham who is an ex-football player and was the NFL’s VP for player and employee development said he has strongly suggested a zero-tolerance policy to many people in the league. He knows what he’s talking about, so why not listen?

I’ve watched over the many years growing up my dad not only coach but mold young men. He and his fellow coaches have been role models, shoulders to lean on, and fathers to the fatherless. Football is one of those sports that requires and teaches discipline, it is a sport that mimics life. Without other people, hard work, communication, and discipline, a team cannot face the adversity that challenges them. I’ve watched my dad use football to impact young people’s lives on a small scale, you have power and authority, you have all of America looking at you. I am not quite sure you understand all the power you hold. Young boys look up to their favorite athletes and watch how they behave, they mimic them. Young girls see Ray Rice’s wife marry him after he beats her senseless. The youth of America is too impressionable, and you are helping to perpetuate this vicious cycle. Violence does not equate to love I promise you that. People in America need to know that if he hits you, he doesn’t love you. Mr. Goodell I am not asking I am begging you to answer, to stand up and be a man. Take a stand, set a precedent. These are our daughters, our sisters, our friends who are not being heard. Please show us what type of men you want the NFL to associate with. Roger Goodell, I am not asking you to do what is fun and I understand that. What I am asking you to do is what is right.

Sincerely,

Maggie Tabone