Giants Hazing Issue

I heard that a video had been put up online by the New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford showing team mate defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul dunking Price Amukamara into a tub of ice.  I decided to watch the video myself, and I found it rather disturbing, not only was this “prank” unwarranted, but so was the language used towards him, and also how the other players that watched acted.  Team mates called him the N-word and cursed at him and told him to “stand up for himself”, they actually said “stand up for yourself”.  This is no prank, it is actually hazing, which is something that I think is rather childish, and it could have been harmful to Prince.

One thing I asked myself was why this was ever posted, but I am glad it was because now it can bring national attention to the subject matter of hazing on more than just a college level.  That does not mean that it will have a positive effect, I am also rather nervous that kids might see this and think “pranks” such as these are okay, but really they are not.  Hazing is an issue that needs to be addressed, and I wonder where the veterans were during this incident, because I am sure that Justin Tuck would have been angry had he seen this happen with his own eyes when the incident actually occurred.

Personally I think that JPP and Weatherford should be fined, JPP should carry the larger fine, and I think a one game suspension, and not a preseason game, because that does not justify punishment in this matter.  I think coach Tom Coughlin is going to come down hard on JPP and Weatherford, because he is that kind of coach, and I like that, however if he does not do what is enough then Roger Goodell needs to step in.  I have been a critic of Roger since he became the commissioner, but this is a matter he needs to get involved in if Coughlin does not do enough.  Prince looked very upset after the incident, and hopefully that is something that caught Coughlin's eyes.

Goodell should ban hazing of players all together, even the stupid haircuts and various other simple acts of rookie and player hazing, because it can lead to what happened with the Giants.  The NFL has tried to maintain a clean image, they have suspended many players for arrests and other various incidents, and this is no different.  On a college campus if a Greek life organization is caught hazing they can be shut down, and if kids do it just for fun they can be suspended or expelled on both high school and college level grounds.  Just because this is the NFL makes it no different, hazing is not only stupid, it is also pathetic, and inhumane.