Violence against women has become a hot-button topic in the NFL recently. While the NFL’s handling of the issue has been far from admirable — running back Ray Rice originally was only suspended two games for knocking his then-fiancée unconscious before being suspended longer after the public saw video of the incident — the league has made some strides in the area.
For the first time this year, any player with misdemeanor or felony convictions involving violence or use of a weapon, domestic violence, sexual offense and/or sexual assault was barred from attending the NFL Combine. Violence against women is a serious problem in college football as well, and it seems there could be even more strides to be taken there.
Mississippi State signee Jeffrey Simmons was charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace back in March after a video was released of him punching a woman on the ground multiple times. In response to the incident, Mississippi State announced that Simmons would be suspended for the season opener against South Alabama and be required to enroll in counseling.
In no way is Simmons missing a single game against an opponent the team should have no problem beating without him a just punishment. There’s a question as to whether or not Mississippi State should’ve still allowed Simmons to join the team, but at the very least a long-term suspension was warranted for his actions. How is missing a single, unimportant game a just punishment for violence, and how does getting a poor punishment teach the player at all?
Based on the weak punishment given out, it seems Mississippi State cared more about getting Simmons as a football player than sending a message that his actions were wrong and not going to be tolerated in future. At no time should participation in a sport be important enough that you overlook violence committed by the athlete.
Mississippi State’s official press release on the situation, which was posted to hailstate.com, said, “Simmons is awaiting final resolution on misdemeanor charges where, in an effort to break up a domestic fight between his sister and another adult woman, he used physical force against one of those involved in the altercation.” The release doesn’t mention that the “physical force” used was repeatedly punching a woman on the ground, which seems more like continuing a fight than it does breaking one up.
In a video posted by al.com, several reporters questioned Mississippi State Athletic Director Scott Stricklin about Simmons’ punishment.
As one reporter pointed out, the suspension for Simmons is the same length as a suspension for a targeting penalty. Another reporter pointed out that Mississippi State backup linebacker Chris Hughes was arrested and suspended for three games in 2011 for striking two family members, but for Simmons, a five-star recruit and the top player in Mississippi State’s recruiting class, the punishment was much less severe.
Stricklin said he wasn’t comfortable doing long-term game suspensions because, while Simmons had signed with the Bulldogs, he had not yet enrolled at Mississippi State.
If Mississippi State truly wanted to send a message to Simmons, they should’ve given him a longer suspension, if they even decided to allow him to join the football team. By not giving him a strict punishment, it seems like Mississippi State is downplaying his actions because of his prowess as a football player and not taking Simmons’ behavior seriously enough.
