The Philadelphia Eagles have set a higher standard for professional sports teams.
Howie Roseman, who does the buying and trading for the Eagles, stated in an interview on The McShay Show that they do not scout players who have been violent against women.
“I won’t even watch them; I don’t wanna even talk about it. It’s a deal breaker, so I can’t say, ‘Oh, he did it 10 years ago and he learned from it’…it just doesn’t work for us, ” Roseman said.
This might not seem revolutionary—but in a league where winning often outweighs decency, it absolutely is.
In sports, so-called “talent” overshadows accountability everytime.
The New York Times wrote an article titled N.F.L. Players Pay a Small Price When Accused of Violence Against Women. It cites a peer-reviewed study showing that if a player performs at an average or above-average level (top 75%), allegations of violence against women rarely impact their career trajectory.
And it’s not exclusively a football issue. This pattern shows up across many professional sports leagues.
The National Library of Medicine published a study following 30 National Basketball Association players arrested for acts of violence against women with similar players who were not arrested. Researchers found no significant difference in salary or career length between the two groups.
Even Major League Baseball—despite having a policy—treats violence against women like a brief time-out, before rolling out the welcome mat again. Players often only face a suspension.
The National Hockey League does not even have a formal personal conduct policy or one specifically addressing domestic violence or sexual assault.
Sure, I could dig up more studies and examples—but I think the trend is already clear.
And let’s be honest: fans aren’t just bystanders—they’re enablers. They cheer, they pay, they wear the jerseys, even when they know the headlines.
A few scattered “boos” on game day aren’t justice. They’re background noise—and teams know it.
The truth is, every dollar and chant says the same thing: I don’t really care what these players do off the field—as long as they perform on the field.
So while the Eagles’ stance may be the exception right now, it shouldn’t be.
Be intentional about who you give your money to. Who you admire. Who you excuse.
Because if the Philadelphia Eagles can take a stand, why can’t the other teams?
