The National Football League has been a broken record of broken laws this season.
After only two games, two of the league’s biggest stars have already been the subject of high profile domestic violence cases. Other cases of violence and drug charges continue to surface as the league tries to control their players and the damage to their reputation.
Here are some of the high-profile headlines that have plagued the NFL over the seasons.
2014
Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice is released by the team after video evidence surfaces of him knocking his then-fiancee unconscious. Originally Rice had only been suspended two games by the NFL, but was suspended indefinitely once “new evidence” of his domestic violence came to light.
Shortly after the Rice controversy came to a boil, another prominent player put the NFL in hot water. Widely regarded as the best running back in the league, Adrian Peterson was deactivated by the Minnesota Vikings after being arrested for allegedly abusing his son.
In the shadow of Rice and Peterson were Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer, who were also involved in domestic violence cases. Hardy, who was convicted in July, was deactivated by the team this week, while Dwyer was released by the Cardinals following his arrest.
2013
In July, New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was indicted for the murder of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. The team released Hernandez in June following his arrest.
2012
In 2012, the Kansas City Chiefs endured one of the most brutal incidents in sports history. On December 1, 25-year-old linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend to death before driving to the Chiefs’ stadium. At the stadium, Belcher died by suicide after shooting himself with a handgun in front of the team’s owner and coaching staff.
Also that year, Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys and Chad Johnson of the Miami Dolphins were both arrested on domestic violence charges. Bryant reportedly had pushed his mother in an argument, and Johnson headbutted his wife during a dispute.
2010
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games in 2010 following a pair of sexual assault allegations. Roethlisberger was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and ordered to undergo a “professional behavior evaluation.”
That same year, Minnesota Vikings quarterback and league veteran Brett Favre was investigated for “sexting” and sending inappropriate messages to a reporter and TV host. Though Favre wasn’t suspended under the league’s policies, he was fined for failing to cooperate with the investigation.
2009
Retired Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was murdered in his home in July of 2009. A girlfriend at the time is thought to have shot 36-year-old McNair as he slept on his couch before turning the gun on herself.
Also in 2009, wide receiver Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter when he struck and killed a man crossing a busy highway. Stallworth had admitted to drinking the night before, and received 30 days in jail, community service and a one-year ban from the NFL.
2008
Plaxico Burress, a receiver for the New York Giants, accidentally shot himself with the gun he had tucked into his waistband while at a club. Burress was subsequently sent to jail on gun-related charges.
2007
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was arrested and charged with running a dog-fighting ring on his property. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely during his legal trouble and jail time. Vick has since made a comeback to the NFL, playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets.
Also in 2007, Brandon Marshall was charged in relation to a domestic dispute, which kicked off a string of legal problems for the receiver. In 2011, Marshall announced he had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and along with keeping a clean record, has since become an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness.
2005
After a history of poor behaviour and a career spanning the NFL, CFL and NFL Europe, Lawrence Phillips was arrested for driving a car into three teenagers. At the time, he was also wanted for assaulting a girlfriend. Phillips is currently serving 31 years in prison.
2000
Baltimore Ravens fan-favourite Ray Lewis was charged with two counts of murder in 2000 after an incident between Lewis’s group and another group left two people stabbed to death outside a bar. Lewis was only convicted of obstruction of justice after striking a deal, and received a year of probation and a $250,000 fine by the NFL. No other suspects have since been arrested for the crime.
1999
Carolina Panthers receiver Rae Carruth was involved in an incident that left his pregnant girlfriend in a coma after she was shot. He was later found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder after prosecutors contended that Carruth had hired someone to kill the woman. Carruth is still in prison.
1994
O.J. Simpson, probably the league’s most infamous player, was involved in one of the most publicized legal cases in American history in 1994. Simpson was charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend after they were found dead outside Brown’s condo. After leading police on a low-speed chase, Simpson was arrested and tried, but ultimately found not guilty of the crimes.
