Dark days have been looming over the NFL for the past few days. Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely from the Baltimore Ravens after video of him hitting his wife, thus knocking her stone cold, and carrying her out of elevator surfaced.
After Rice received his punishment, most reacted on social media by figuratively ridding themselves of Rice’s memory.
Some burned jerseys while others updated their statuses and tweets.
If Rice’s problems off the field were not enough for the NFL, then Adrian Peterson would certainly provide the league with another headache.
Peterson, a star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, was indicted for speculation of child abuse.
According to reports, Peterson had given his four year-old son a “whooping†with a switch he had fashioned out of sticks.
On Monday, Peterson was reinstated by the Vikings operations so that he could play against Drew Breeze and the New Orleans Saints.
Apparently, the Vikings will deactivate any star player due to their abusive behavior off the field…unless of course they’ll have to go up against
Breeze and the Saints without their star player.
The sad fact of the matter is, most NFL fans that do find the acts of players like Rice and Peterson to be despicable will do nothing other than take to their social media outlets and express their rage.
Unfortunately, those who perpetuate an organization and serve as the primary cog that keeps the whole organization rolling – the fans – seem to have no direct voice into one of the largest sports organizations in the world.
But, there is one thing that all NFL fans can do. They can turn off their television sets.
With this editorial, we at The Xavierite know that we are not going to change your mind or your lifestyle habits.
But, we can and do ask you to listen.
If you truly disagree with the NFL, their record of handling abuse and their attitudes reflected in the weeks passed the best thing you can do is nothing.
Do not protest. Do not riot. Do not watch the games. If you want to make a difference, it is that simple.
We are not the judges of what your moral standards are or should be or will be.
But, if you are those who feel that the NFL has dropped the ball, then perhaps you vindicate your point of view by doing something by doing nothing.
You vote with your wallet. You vote with your dollar.
And until you let the NFL hear what you are saying by hurting their wallets, you have not been heard.
You can film yourself burning a Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson jersey all you want.
Symbolism is great, but they already have your money.
We are not trying to tell you what is right and what is wrong.
But, we are trying to tell you how you can make a difference if you so choose.
The fans are vastly more powerful than they think they are.
Yes, social media can provide great outlets to weigh public opinion.
Unfortunately, in this situation, it is not that useful for anything else.
The NFL is not going to change because you tweeted.
They will change only when they start to lose money on investments.
So if you care, you should not be watching.
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The Xavierite Staff