GOOD CALL

NFL: Suspend ASAP for Domestic Violence

Six games, according to new policy.

After Ravens running back Ray Rice beat his then-fiancee and dragged her from an elevator earlier this year, it has dawned on the commissioner of the NFL that maybe a two-game suspension isn’t punishment enough. Roger Goodell sent a letter Thursday to 32 NFL owners describing new policies for domestic violence incidents. A first offense will result in suspension without pay for six games, and a second offense will result in a lifetime ban from the NFL. “We allowed our standards to fall below where they should be and lost an important opportunity to emphasize our strong stance on a critical issue and the effective programs we have in place,” Goodell wrote. “My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values. I didn’t get it right. Simply put, we have to do better. And we will.”