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Bears Chairman says Ray McDonald situation ‘opportunity to make an impact’

By Josh Criswell

Oct 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91) during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi
Oct 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald (91) during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi /
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The Chicago Bears signed Ray McDonald this offseason despite serious character concerns, and the team wasted no time in releasing the defensive tackle following another domestic violence-related arrest earlier this week.  

The Chicago Bears knew they were taking a risk when they signed former San Fransisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald, a decent player with major red flags. Even the most pessimistic of predictions, however, could not have foreseen how quickly the move would backfire.

McDonald was arrested early Monday morning on charges of domestic violence and child endangerment. The police report contains several disturbing details, including McDonald assaulting the victim while she was holding a baby.

In case you were wondering, this is the same Ray McDonald that played through last season after being arrested for a felony domestic violence charge. His past also includes being named as a suspect in a sexual assault investigation.

With the NFL taking a huge public relations hit in recent years due to an increasingly growing list of domestic violence transgressions among its players, the Bears had no choice but to release McDonald, especially given the previous accusations against him.

Bears Chairman George McCaskey has been second-guessing his decision to approve the signing of McDonald from the very beginning, and the unfortunate events this week have left him with more questions than answers.

He does believe, however, that addressing the horrible situation properly, as they did, can be used as an avenue to take a stand against and bring attention to the very serious issue of domestic abuse that our society is facing.

"“Domestic violence is a vexing social problem,” McMaskey said via the Chicago Tribune. “The NFL has had some high-profile cases, including this one. The NFL, because it’s a leader in society, is called upon to take action, which we are doing. We’re not going to do it by ourselves. But I think we have an opportunity to make an impact.”"

Whether the swift release was a PR-friendly reaction to avoid bad publicity, or a genuine decision that aligns with the core beliefs of the organization, it is certainly the right move for both the Bears and the NFL.

Blacklisting him from the league and making him the poster child of athletes who think they are above the law could definitely make an impact. A monster with McDonald’s ugly past has no place in a league that is trying to rebuild its crumbling image.

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