Local Coach Reacts to NFL Abuse Allegations

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer became the the 4th NFL player Thursday to be recently charged with abusing a woman or child. Police say he head-butted his wife and broke her nose, after she refused his sexual advances.

Carolina Panthers’ Greg Hardy and Minnesota Viking, Adrian Peterson are also facing abuse charges, both now on the NFL commissioners “exempt list,” which keeps them off the field. Ray Rice was released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the league after video surfaced of him beating his now-wife in a casino elevator.

“There’s no question. What was taken in that video was disturbing, frustrating, angering. A lot of different emotions, that shouldn’t be happening,” said Jim Donaldson, head football coach at Desert Chapel High School in Palm Springs.

The star players serve as role models, not only on the field… but off it too. Donaldson says the abuse allegations against the NFL players is troubling. He says any kind of abuse against women and children is unacceptable, but knows both are still prominent problems in society.

“I think these things happen more often than we realize, the NFL is just brining it to center stage for everyone to see that it’s happening,” Donaldson said.

While he calls the controversy surrounding the NFL “unfortunate,” Donaldson is hoping the recent string of arrests of the NFL players can serve as a lesson — especially his own players. He teaches his team that playing the sport is about building character, and the game’s aggressiveness should not step off the field.

“Cause these guys, when they grow up to be young men and they go on with the rest of their lives, and their going to impact others. and what you teach them for off the field behavior is going to stick with them for the rest of their lives,” Donaldson said.

He said he believes the NFL has been controversial with its handling of the recent allegations of its players, but he’s happy the teams themselves are starting to take action.

“That they despite wins, despite losses, despite how its going to affect us on the field we are going to take a stance that we don’t tolerate this and we think these actions are inexcusable and we’re not going to let any on the field talent take precedent us winning over an organization.”