Valentine’s Day is typically a day when couples get together and shower each other with love and affection. But, on February 14th 2005, the Tennessee Titans Samari Rolle had no gifts or grand gestures of love for his wife Danisha – just a punch to her left eye. Rolle later turned himself in after staff at the Baptist Hospital in Nashville contacted the police while treating Danisha for her injuries. Less than a month later he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens – and fined one week’s pay for the incident. No suspension or warning of a lifetime ban, just losing $58,823 of his $1 million salary.
Just one month later, on March 14th, 2005, Rolle’s 6’3, 305 lb Titans teammate, Brad Hopkins, got into a dispute with his wife Ellen. She insisted to an insurance agent that they needed to add a new vehicle to their coverage, which enraged Hopkins enough to wrap his hands around her throat and proceed to choke the air out of her. He was charged and arrested for domestic assault.
In May of 2006, Cleveland Browns running back Reuben Droughns was arrested after throwing his wife Kellie to the ground, only to pick her up and carry her to their room where he threw her around some more. After stating she wants a divorce, he picked her up and carried her on his shoulders and literally flung her out the front door. He was arrested on one count of assault and two counts of harassment.
On April 10, 2007, the NFL unveiled their new conduct policy which was designed to curb and control their players off-the-field incidents. Commissioner Roger Goodell decided that they needed to impose much harsher punishments on players, and they backed it up by imposing two of the harshest penalties they’ve ever handed down in the history of the league: Adam “Pac Man” Jones yearlong suspension and Michael Vick’s indefinite suspension without pay (which lasted two seasons). The move was praised by current and former players, as well as executives around the league who felt it took a strong stance against improper and malicious behavior.
Yet, in February of 2008, deputies arrived at the home of Houston Texans kick returner Jerome Mathis after receiving a 911 call. His common law wife, 26-year old Erica Smith, had been pushed onto their bed by Mathis and viciously choked – while she was six months pregnant. Mathis was arrested and charged with assault and family violence.
Then days later, on February 19th, 2008, Oakland Raiders cornerback Fabian Washington got into an argument with his live-in girlfriend who’s also the mother of their young baby, after being accused of “hanging out with other girls.” In a moment of rage, he wrapped his hands around her throat and dragged her backwards before allowing her to reach for their child. He was then arrested at his home for domestic battery.
In May of 2009, Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka was at home when his wife confronted him over contacting other women on Facebook. He responded by throwing her down the stairs. He was suspended for one game without pay for violating the leagues conduct policy.
In November, 2010, Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints, began arguing with his wife Racquel just after 2 a.m. outside of a Lafayette night club. Will escalated the confrontation by grabbing her by her hair and pulling her down the street. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
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