After NFL Draft, Murphy, Blumenthal, McCaskill Call On League To Hold Drafted Players Accountable Under Personal Conduct Policy

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wrote to National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell urging him to apply the League's new personal conduct policy on domestic violence to recently-drafted players. Under the League's personal conduct policy, an investigation is begun when a possible violation occurs; the Senators called on Commissioner Goodell to apply the same standard to draft picks with outstanding legal proceedings.

"In an effort to move past the domestic violence issues that arose in the wake of the Ray Rice videos last year, the NFL issued new League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior," the Senators wrote. "We ask that you play a strong role in ensuring that the newly-issued League guidance regarding punishment for off-the-field behavior is strongly and evenly enforced and that the NFL is clear about its expectations for this incoming class and all players. Additionally, as the League's new personal conduct policy calls for the NFL to launch its own investigation when it becomes aware of a possible violation, we ask that you launch such investigations into any recently drafted player with outstanding legal proceedings related to domestic violence violations. We also urge you to consider such cases that occurred before a player was drafted when determining appropriate discipline for any future violations of the league's conduct policy by any NFL player."

The Senators also expressed their concern about the dismissive nature in which NFL teams, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago Bears, responded to questions about possible domestic violence violations by their future players.

"Sadly, the progress the League made in announcing its new personal conduct policy has fallen on the deaf ears of NFL owners and front office personnel. When confronted with draft decisions, general managers and coaches -- far from avoiding players with a history of domestic violence -- chose to draft talent without consideration of a history of legal issues."

Additionally, the Senators noted the League's failure to execute commitments made in their attempts to remedy domestic violence problems, such as a multi-million dollar donation to the National Domestic Violence Hotline that has yet to be received.

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