I’m getting tired of the NFL. I get more sick of it as a parent. Here are some fun story lines from the past year:

1. Ray Rice punches out his fiancée in an elevator;
2. Greg Hardy beats his girlfriend, allegedly pays her off so she doesn’t testify, signs a free agent contract, and he appeals his suspension; and
3. Adrian Peterson beat his son with a switch. 

These are just some of the lowlights. The NFL’s advice on how to deal with this and other crimes? Get a “fall guy!”

Notice who else is in the video?  Cris Carter in his Hall of Fame jacket. Now, Cris Carter has some former drug problems and has had I problems giving unsolicited advice on the topic. Now, I’m not suggesting his past history precludes him from giving advice. Rather, it’s his past history that makes him uniquely qualified to give out advice. I just can’t believe his advice is to get a “fall guy.”

The other person in the video was Warren Sapp. Like Rice, Hardy, and Peterson, he would also face domestic violence charges. This should have come as no shock because he’s been previously charged with domestic battery. Those charges were dropped. Subsequently, he became an NFL Network analyst and advisor to rookies on how to handle yourself in the NFL. 

Now, I love the Giants. The past three Super Bowls were some of my favorite sports memories. However, how can I sit there and support this product when they’re constantly in the news cycle for the wrong reasons?  How can I support them when their advice to players is to get a “fall guy.”  The NFL supported this message as it was on their website until the public outcry. 

This is disturbing. However, I’ll admit that I’m going to watch this season, but I’m also dangerously close to checking out.  I may not let my son watch.  I want to wait until he’s much older to explain why some people beat women and children. I’m not looking to shelter him from the world. Rather, I’m waiting until it’s a more age appropriate conversation. 

The NFL talks about protecting the shield. I think they need to start protecting women and children instead of looking for scapegoats.