NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson last night in a "tearful statement" said that he "stands firmly against domestic violence," according to a front-page piece by Joseph Person of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Richardson, accepting an Echo Award Against Indifference in Charlotte, said, "When it comes to domestic violence, my stance is not one of indifference. I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple." Panthers DE Greg Hardy is "due in court Nov. 17 for a jury trial on charges he assaulted his ex-girlfriend," but played in Sunday's opener against the Buccaneers. Richardson added, "To those who would suggest that we’ve been too slow to act, I ask that you consider not to be too quick to judge. Over the course of our 20 years, we have worked extremely hard to build an organization of integrity ... I will work hard to continue to earn your trust.” Person notes Richardson and the Panthers have been "criticized by both the local and national media as well as by some fans." Richardson "never mentioned Hardy by name in his remarks." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was "scheduled to attend" the event honoring Richardson, but Goodell, who had "been in Wake Forest near Raleigh earlier in the day to promote a USA Football safety initiative, never showed up" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/11).
NO GRANDFATHER CLAUSE: In Raleigh, Luke DeCock notes Goodell "spoke with media before" the
AP report that the league received the second Ray Rice video in April. Goodell said that the judicial process "would have to run its course" in Hardy's case and that of 49ers DE Ray McDonald. He added that both players "would be held to the new domestic-violence policy the NFL announced two weeks ago in response to criticism of Rice’s original suspension." Goodell: "Part of our program here, there’s so much focus on the discipline, but what we announced two weeks ago was a change in the education, the training, so we can do everything possible to prevent these issues from happening. That’s the key for us. Give people the resources to be able to do that" (
Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 9/11). Meanwhile, Hardy did not attend Panthers practice yesterday, and coach Ron Rivera said that Hardy's "excused absence ... was not tied to any potential discipline from the NFL" (
ESPN.com, 9/10).
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: In Greensboro, Ed Hardin writes the Panthers "needed to get out in front of this situation, but the team apparently has decided to cower and hope it blows over." Hardy "should not be playing this week." Out of "respect for the process, to put it in their terms, the Panthers should bench their star defensive end until his trial." Out of "respect for what we’ve seen this week, videotaped or otherwise, that would be the courageous thing to do" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 9/11). YAHOO SPORTS' Eric Adelson wrote the Panthers should "take a precautionary step: keep the arrested player off the field without cutting him or his pay." In the "post-Ray Rice world, that’s a step that teams like the Panthers should be taking." Instead, "nothing was done in Baltimore, and nothing has been done in Charlotte." It can "seem prudent to those who want to respect due process," but it "looks callous and calculating to victims, and to fans who are now watching these decisions more closely than ever" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/10).
