Sometimes I hate the NFL. Most of the time; I love the NFL. I love watching football, talking about football, reading about football. One of my favorite Christmas ornaments is a miniature laptop that says "Fantasy Football Legend" on the screen. The Green Bay Packers organization is one of the greatest sources of passion and joy in my life. Watching Packer games with family and friends on Sundays is my favorite tradition. The team gives me a connection with so many people, both strangers and the most important people in my life. I love what the team means to my hometown, Green Bay. My dream is to be a sports journalist, a job that will certainly involve the NFL. Without the Packers and the NFL, my life would be utterly different. The only problem; sometimes I hate the NFL.
I'm not talking about the sense of desolation I feel when my beloved team refuses to win games while possessing the best quarterback in the NFL. I'm talking about the interrupted stream of NFL player domestic abuse cases that have been brought to light. I'm talking about Ben Roethlisberger, Ray Rice, Greg Hardy, Adrian Peterson, Johnny Manziel, and every player who grossly mistreated someone that they were supposed to love and protect. These supposed "men" are ruining the game, along with the NFL authorities that refuse to take real action in punishing them.
Whether they should be or not, NFL players are role models to children, especially young men. They are inspired by the player's achievement and dedication and all the positive things sports should be, which is great, but it comes with a huge risk. How can we accept these people as heroes without assuring people they are worthy of being emulated.
The NFL leadership deserves a lot of blame for this problem as well. They claim to care and make commercials reprimanding domestic abuse, while guilty players continue strapping up on Sunday's. It is clear that profits are much more important to the NFL than people are. Players being suspended for the same amount of games for allegedly cheating and beating their spouse is utterly ridiculous. These players deserve at least year long suspensions for their actions, and should not be allowed to return without showing real remorse, and counseling that is monitored. Unfortunately, the NFL will likely not do any of this, and the problem will tragically continue.
I don't want to hate the NFL, and I don't know if I can truly do it. Last week I watched the draft without a thought about these issues. I am more excited for the season than I am for literally anything else. I feel hypocritical writing this article knowing full well I will continue watching and enjoying football this season. But, a shadow of doubt has started creeping across my mind. I hope the NFL is able to reverse their current horrible trend, and become the positive force it should, and can, be. If they cannot, the NFL may one day become irreversibly ruined.
