49ers CEO Jed York yesterday said that he "does not have enough information to determine" whether DE Ray McDonald is "guilty or not following an arrest nine days earlier on suspicion of domestic violence," and that is why the club allowed McDonald to play in Sunday's opener, according to Cam Inman of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. York, appearing on S.F.-based KNBR-AM, said of the decision, "I will not punish somebody until we see evidence something should be done or until an entire police investigation shows us something." He added, "Each case is its own separate case. Ray McDonald is not Ray Rice. As a society, we have a sense of saying, 'You didn't do it with Ray Rice right away, so you need to overdo it with Ray McDonald, or whoever else it is.' I don't believe that's the country we live in. I don't think that's a fair way to approach it." York said that he "hadn't spoken publicly" until yesterday because the 49ers "speak in 'one voice,' and that his views were expressed earlier" by GM Trent Baalke and coach Jim Harbaugh. York: "It's very important we do let due process take its course. It's very important we don't judge somebody before charges are filed or anything else happens." With an NFL-high 10 arrests since '12, York said that the 49ers "'haven't lived up to that expectation' of acting in a more proper fashion." In terms of enforcing discipline, York also cited "flaws in the league's collective bargaining agreement with the players union." York: "We certainly need to take a very hard look at ourselves as a league and figure out a better way to do this" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/10). York said that he "needs to see 'evidence that something’s been done' before punishing McDonald." York: “I would rather have someone criticize me for doing that than punishing someone who is innocent" (SACBEE.com, 9/9).
FOLLOWING SUIT: In San Jose, Mark Purdy writes the "last thing" York wants is to "find himself in a position to write a letter" like the one Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti posted on the Ravens' website yesteday. Purdy: "We know that many other players were at the house party where the McDonald episode occurred. Have those players been interviewed by the police? And if so, have 49ers lawyers been present when those interviews took place?" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/10).
DEMOCRACY OF HYPOCRISY? A CHARLOTTE OBSERVER editorial states the Panthers "risk their reputation" and Owner Jerry Richardson "jeopardizes his moral credibility by covering" for DE Greg Hardy, who was convicted in July of assaulting a female. The Panthers can say the club is "letting the legal process play out, but it appears they just want to bulk up their pass rush." The Panthers "should suspend him, and fans at Sunday’s game should turn their backs when Hardy takes the field." Because "applauding Rice’s suspension while cheering for Hardy is the height of hypocrisy." Richardson has "shown himself to be a man of character with the highest standards for his players." Now comes "one of his biggest tests" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/10).
