The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players

FivetThirtyEight ^ | Benjamin Morris

[Enlightened1]

Although there seems to be an endless stream of stories about NFL player arrests and misconduct, this is largely because there are a lot of NFL players (and they’re famous). At the league’s peak (during training camps), there are about 2,560 players attached to NFL teams (limit 80 each). As I’ll show, arrest rates among NFL players are quite low compared to national averages for men in their age range — but there are some types of crimes that trail the pack significantly.

[TomGuy]

Never let facts stand in the way of a good story line.

They can always issue an apology retraction on page 31 later.

[Quality_Not_Quantity]

Personally, I believe that the violence off the field may be a consequence of not learning how to leave the violence on the field, on the field.

My son had an opportunity to work the sidelines at an NFL game last year. He said that the amount of adrenalin flowing on the sidelines and in the locker room was almost frightening, especially among the linemen.

They get themselves worked up almost into a frenzy - he characterized them as almost psycho. At that elite level, you almost have to work yourself up into a state like that, or you just don’t survive.

I wonder if that’s part of the reason that people in high-octane jobs are (?) more likely to let it bleed over into other areas of their lives?

[areukiddingme1]

"The Rate of Domestic Violence Arrests Among NFL Players" Okay, just wait a dog gone minute -- You mean to tell me that a community with amazing leaders as these aspiring young entrepreneurs could possibly produce angry young men that would go on to play in the NFL...

why the mere thought of young men with such progressive clothing ideals could hardly be anything less than pillars of their society and their communities they are simply the cutting edge of progressivism -- Why I would bet these young men in the picture would be appalled by violence against women, illegal drug use, prostitution, and/or gang violence nor would ever consider voting for someone "just because of the color of their skin." No, no...these young men are deep thinking, contemplative, and deliberate in their thoughts, words, and deeds no one like this would ever go on to the NFL and be anything less than genius. It must be the NFL that is wrong.

[Brother Cracker]

Yup. Then there are those who grew up being whipped with switches:
http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2014/09/photos-of-adrian-petersons-4-year-old-son-after-switch-spanking/

[Tenacious 1]

Someone needs to show this to the ESPN Crusaders that let their emotions trump facts and reality.

Silly football fan, the NFL isn't about football anymore. They invited the devil to dinner a few years ago and they will now wear the anvil around their neck for as long as they exist. Pro Football is now, and forever will be, a petri dish of political correctness, diversity sensitivity and fairness.

I had to turn off the pre-game shows over the weekend. I don't want to hear about: 1) Domestic Violence, 2) How horrible the "Washington Football Club's" team name is, 3) The fate of the first openly gay draftee, 4) Breast Cancer Awareness, 5) Concussion lawsuits and settlements, 6) ETC.

I tune in to watch men engage in controlled physical combat to advance physical dominance across 4 quarters of game play over an opponent. The combat is contained in a constant strategic ballet of offense and defense trying to outguess one another for the simple purpose of advance, and preventing the advancement, of a football, on foot, toward a goal without being tackled.

I used to argue that we don't need cheerleaders because they were a distraction. If we can drop the PC BS, I am now fine with cheerleaders running around naked for the duration of the game. Just give me my football back.

[Tenacious 1]

Yes. They get away with a lot of crimes and are never charged

Well now, it's not like they actually get away with murder or anything like that.

Oh, wait.....

[antidisestablishment]

It’s called Roid Rage. They don’t work themselves into a frenzy, they are injected with it.

[Enlightened1]

Look at the FBI crime states for 2013. Violent Crime is at a 20 year low.

The NFL Violent Crime rate compared as a percentage compared to Society is extremely low.

So if you want to believe the ESPN extreme leftist that we need to PC the NFL, then be my guest.

[Tenacious 1]

RE: Post #19...

I hate to admit it, but there is truth to your comment. I played some College Football myself at D2 level. I did get special treatment in some areas of highschool and in college.

That said, “completing” the necessary classwork and keeping up with a demanding scholarship football schedule takes a serious commitment. It is not for lazy or unambitious folks. This assumes the university and the student’s studies actually adhere to NCAA rules and ..... I was an engineering student. It was hard.

[Tenacious 1]

My son had an opportunity to work the sidelines at an NFL game last year. He said that the amount of adrenalin flowing on the sidelines and in the locker room was almost frightening, especially among the linemen.

They get themselves worked up almost into a frenzy - he characterized them as almost psycho. At that elite level, you almost have to work yourself up into a state like that, or you just don’t survive.

I wonder if that’s part of the reason that people in high-octane jobs are (?) more likely to let it bleed over into other areas of their lives?

All of that is true for the most part... except maybe the "bleeding over". NOW, I will tell you from experience, most linemen (football players), off the field, are not easily riled into that adrenaline fueled, animalistic frenzy. But add alcohol/drugs and it can be like playing hot potatoe with nitroglyceren. I've seen that happen. A 6'5" 350 lb offensive tackle can do sructurual damage to things and people under the influence.

[NEMDF]

Yes, I was noticing a commonality among the NFL players all over the news for the past few days.

Two things occur to me: there is not an appropriate demographic of arrests of Caucasian NFL players or there is not a proportionate representation of race among NFL players, to the population at large.

(/s)

[Colinsky]

The reality is that most professional sports are predominately populated by black athletes.

Well, not really. Football and basketball, yes, but blacks have mostly vanished from major league baseball, and they've never had much presence in the National Hockey League or the Professional Golfers Association.

[Calvin Locke]

That's an unfair comparison. How many times do you think a congresscritter plays the "I-On-My-Way-To-A-Vote-In-Congress" get out of a predicament card on a nightly basis?

Unless they're pulling a Kennedy and trying to take out a LEO, it generally doesn't make it to an official report, let alone the news.

[TexasGator]

“Never let facts stand in the way of a good story line.”

We know that Ray Price’s arrest will never appear in the NFL statistics since it will be erased from his record.

[Chainmail]

Well, OK. I guess that means we’ll see fewer domestic assaults with those sports?

[grania]

The problem with football players goes back to HS, in those towns where the varsity football teams are treated like gods. An example is an OH town two years ago (or so) had a horrific situation with three players who were drinking at a party raping a drunk young lady. The party was permitted by adults, and school officials and coaches tried very hard to cover up the incident.

That's where the solution has to start. Colleges and the NFL might also consider not having players whose behavior record would otherwise eliminate those players from consideration for college acceptance or a job.

JMHO

[grania]

I don’t think completion of counseling in lieu of jail time is uncommon for first offenders without other problems with the law.

[jiggyboy]

“The pretrial intervention program offered to Ray Rice in the assault case involving his wife was granted in less than 1 percent of all domestic violence assault cases from 2010-13 that were resolved, according to New Jersey Judiciary data obtained Friday by “Outside the Lines.””

“According to New Jersey’s pretrial intervention website, PTI is used in criminal cases that don’t involve “violence” and for “victimless crimes.””

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/11514871/judicial-figures-show-ray-rice-deal-offered-rarely

Nope, no violence and no victim here. All on the up and up.

[Ransomed]

“That’s where the solution has to start. Colleges and the NFL might also consider not having players whose behavior record would otherwise eliminate those players from consideration for college acceptance or a job.”

Football is so popular they will not do that. Although MLB has its share of jerks, MLB probably actually benefits from the minor leagues and college baseball being not a fraction as popular in that very specific way, much easier to weed out the talented jerkwads before they make the big show. Also much easier to bench players for jerkitude on and off field when they play so many games.

FReegards

[grania]

I'm not convinced it's favortism perse

A lot of knowing about programs and taking advantage of them is having a real good lawyer. Another part is having a perfect record. How many abusers have that situation?

Even if in retrospect people think they should have a say in abuse cases (I disagree), this Ray Rice issue was already settled and they seem to have worked it out and are now a family that's succeeding. How is this media feeding frenzy helping this couple that actually worked to resolve things? The media feeding frenzy will discourage athletes from getting counseling. Now situations will be hidden and unresolved. I'd rather see Ray Rice as an example of what to do when things go horribly wrong....man up and get the help they and their partner needs.