NFL Case Shines Light On Bullying

The National Football League, under siege for players' off-field behavior, has an ugly new problem that threatens to soil the organization's already tattered reputation.  News reports out of Miami have unmasked bullying as part of pro teams' routine hazing of incoming players.

When the story leaked out, too many NFL players reacted with a shrug.  They dismissed the threats and racist remarks of the Miami player as "boys just being boys." Many in the violent sport of pro football called for the offended player to "man up" and accept the verbal abuse without complaint.

Even the media failed to grasp the serious nature of bullying, despite the fact the hectoring prompted a Dolphin player to leave the team because of "emotional issues." Apparently, a few mental casualties are acceptable on the sports pages of America's jaded media.

For their part, the Dolphins suspended the player accused of bullying. Good for them.  But the larger message about bullying has been lost in the media accounts, which have focused on the code of brotherhood among players that condones the initiation as part of some rite of passage.

Bullying should never be socially acceptable, regardless of the age or occupation of the perpetrator.  If you need convincing, just look at the trends in bullying among young people, who unfortunately often take their behavioral cues from sports and entertainment personalities.

--About thirty percent of students in the United States are involved in bullying on a regular basis, either as a victim, perpetrator or both, according to a recent survey.  Verbal bullying is most common, although a growing number are physically attacked.

--An estimated 160,000 students every day miss school out of fear of an attack or intimidation by their peers.  An alarming 56 percent of students report they have personally witnessed some type of bullying at their school.

--More than one in 10 high school students reported they were in a physical fight on school property in the last year, according to the Crimes Against Children Research Center.

--A recent study presented at the American Psychological Association's annual convention found that more than 20 percent of those who were bullied throughout childhood and adolescence were convicted of crimes.  Victims also had higher incidences of delinquency and substance abuse in school.

Outside of school, many young people are being victimized by cyber bullying, which is spreading like a virus on the Internet.  About one-half of all teens have been verbally assaulted by harmful messages on social media, reported The Wall Street Journal.

When any organization, business or person condones bullying, it should be exposed and condemned.  Bullying will never be stopped until everyone refuses to make excuses for verbal or physical abuse, even if it masquerades under the seemingly innocuous name of hazing.

Now that the situation in Miami has come to light, the NFL should move expeditiously to stamp out bullying league-wide as an example for others to follow.