As two of the darkest weeks in NFL history come to a close, let's address five of the Frequently Asked Questions about what has happened:
What has the NFL done to address domestic violence, child abuse and other personal conduct issues?
Commissioner Roger Goodell has increased penalties for domestic violence. (Six games for first offense, at least a year for second.) He is requiring all team personnel and staff to undergo prevention training within a month and has hired former FBI director Robert Mueller III to conduct an independent investigation of the league's actions. The league has partnered with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to ensure adequate funding for all phone calls. Goodell has hired three domestic violence advisers and given a new title to an existing employee. (Anna Isaacson is now vice president of social responsibility.) He will speak about the changes Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
What will happen to the four players at the center of most recent events?
Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson and Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy are on the exempt/commissioner's permission list and can't be activated until both their teams and Goodell agree on a return date. Peterson won't resume playing until charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child are resolved; no trial date has been set. Hardy's appeal of conviction is scheduled for Nov. 17. Running back Jonathan Dwyer, on the reserve/non-football injury list, won't play this season for the Arizona Cardinals unless he is exonerated of domestic violence charges. The career of running back Ray Rice, released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL, might be over.
What is the exempt/commissioner's permission list for?
The NFL personnel manual mandates this option for "unique circumstances" only. Quarterback Michael Vick, linebacker Jonathan Vilma and running back Jeff Demps have appeared on it in recent years as a tool, granted by Goodell, to maintain contract rights over a player after removing him from a 53-man roster. Peterson and Hardy are paid their normal salaries, but the games they miss won't count toward an accrued season as it relates to pension and other benefits.
What is the reserve/non-football injury list?
This is a designation typically used for players who are unable to play because of a development that occurred away from a game or the team facility. Off-site workouts and mental illness are two of the more common examples; Dwyer was reported to be undergoing mental evaluations because he mentioned suicide in police interviews. The Cardinals could have opted to withhold Dwyer's salary, but will pay him at his normal $42,941 weekly clip. If the Cardinals release him, he would be free to sign with another team.
In what ways has the NFL been damaged?
There have been a number of implied threats from politicians and corporate sponsors, but most action has been localized. Nike is among several companies to drop or suspend its endorsement of Peterson, and Radisson suspended its contract with the Vikings. Peterson's charity foundation also has gone on hiatus. Anheuser-Busch, which pays the NFL $1.2 billion over six years, issued the most severe corporate statement of contempt, saying it was "not yet satisfied with the league's handling of behaviors that so clearly go against our own company culture and moral code." Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has introduced legislation to remove the NFL's tax-exempt status and direct the tax proceeds toward domestic violence prevention programs. Losing the exemption could cost the NFL and other sports leagues $100 million annually.