The 49ers' handling of domestic violence allegations against DE Ray McDonald "is highly disturbing," and the team is "sending the unmistakable impression that its -- and the league's -- expression of concern about such abuse applies only to the extent that its on-field fortunes are affected," according to a S.F. CHRONICLE editorial. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's "sanctimonious attempt to invoke constitutional principles of due process ... was simply absurd" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/5). NBCSports.com's Keith Arnold said, “This is not ‘CSI: Bay Area.’ You either hit your pregnant fiancé or you didn't. ... If you are going to play him on Sunday and you say you’re not going to play guys who abuse women, there's a disconnect." But the Orange County Register's Dan Woike said of Harbaugh, "He's not the United States government and he’s not a judge. He's a football coach." Woike: "It's an awkward decision for him to look at a situation and say, ‘Did this happen? Do I believe the accusation? Do I believe the guy I coach? How do I do that? And I'm also trying to win football games.’ I think he's in a weird spot like that." However, Woike admits by not suspending McDonald, Harbaugh is "going back on what he said before about having a zero-tolerance policy” (“Rome,” CBS Sports Network, 9/4). Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Matt Barrows wrote under the header, "Alcohol Is Players' Biggest Enemy." The 49ers "lead the league in arrests over the last two years: Hard partying, heavy drinking and run-ins with the law." Their "biggest enemy isn’t the Seahawks, it’s alcohol" (SACBEE.com, 9/4).
WEEDING OUT THE PROBLEM: In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi writes the Steelers following the arrests of RBs LeGarrette Blount and Le'Veon Bell last month "should just go ahead and do what's right." Bell and Blount "should be deactivated" for Sunday's season opener against the Browns. Despite the arrests, the "plan is to hand it off to them against the Browns in a game that counts." Rossi: "What about taking a stand? What about sending a message?" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/5).
