The Value of Things: Crime and Punishment

Domestic violence and sexual misconduct are the newest taboos in professional sports. It started when Ray Rice was suspended by the NFL and effectively blackballed him for the rest of his career. Of course, he had the misfortune of having his misdeeds broadcast on video for everyone to see. Suddenly, the NFL had a public relations disaster on its hands and Roger Goodell learned a very important lesson.

The commissioner’s exempt list was born out of that catastrophe. Essentially, it allows the commissioner to suspend someone indefinitely with pay until the league can figure out an appropriate punishment. In subsequent cases, the league has punished players in spite of the absence of criminal…