Conservative columnist George Will on Sunday asserted that recent domestic violence scandals in the National Football League (NFL) would not force change as long as the business model was "consciously" merchandising violence.
During a panel segment on Fox News Sunday, political analyst Brit Hume argued that the NFL was being made a "scapegoat" for violent players.
"Since when is it the job of a sports league to police the private conduct -- and in these cases, misconduct -- of the players, off the field, outside the realm of football?" he asked. "This is something relatively new."
Will predicted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would keep his job.
"Last week's three most viewed television programs were Sunday Night Football, Thursday Night Football and Monday Night Football," Will explained. "And money talks, and it will continue to talk. And this will pass over, and football will go on its merry way."
"I happen to believe the problem with football is football!" he added. "Which is to say, it is merchandising -- consciously -- violence. And some of it spills over."
Will also pointed to the concussions in football during an "era of bubble-wrapped childhoods."
"Parents put helmets on their children when they ride tricycles, they aren't going to let them play football," he insisted.
