Outraged swelled in July when star Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended just two games by the National Football League for allegedly knocking his fiancée out cold in a casino elevator. Compared to the one-year ban Browns receiver Josh Gordon faced for multiple positive drug tests, many saw an imbalance in punishment.
But when Gordon appealed his suspension on Aug. 1, some thought his ban would be reduced. The NFL rejected Gordon's appeal on Wednesday, sending a clear message to many fans and commentators: When it comes to punishment, smoking the occasional joint is eight times worse than beating a woman.
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The NFL's decision on Wednesday touched off a fresh round of outrage over how it treats marijuana use and physical abuse.
Knock your fiancee unconscious and drag her out of an elevator? Two games. Weed? You're out for the season. Ladies and gents, the NFL.— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) August 27, 2014
Ray Rice two games. Josh Gordon a year. Congratulations on being completely corrupt and misguided, NFL management.— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) August 27, 2014
If you date an NFL player, change your name to marijuana. That way if he hits you, they'll punish him.— Michelle Wolf (@michelleisawolf) August 27, 2014
But it's not quite that simple. Gordon is a repeat offender of the NFL's banned-substances policy, breaking it at least twice. He failed a drug test last year, and was suspended for two games. Drug offenses fall under the league's collective bargaining agreement, and include mandatory punishments. Domestic violence offenses do not, so are subject to a much more arbitrary form of enforcement.
Gordon knew he had to pass off-season drug tests, so he stupidly put himself at risk -- even if, as his appeal reportedly contended, he tested positive for marijuana this time around due to second-hand smoke. Now, why did the players' union agree to a pact that includes such harsh potential penalties for smoking pot -- a substance that looks on its way to American legalization? Good question, but that's a separate conversation.
Directly comparing the suspensions of Rice and Gordon may be off the mark in a certain sense. But numbers, as they say, never lie. Ray Rice is missing two of the NFL regular season's 16 games because of domestic violence. Josh Gordon is missing an entire season because he tested positive for marijuana.
The technicalities and caveats are worth noting, but Wednesday's end result is the same: In the NFL, smoking a joint can be an offense that's eight times worse than beating a woman. It's just the latest public-relations black eye for a league that's increasingly taking on an odious tinge for many fans.