What is happening to the coarsening of our society? A prime example of this is the National Football League.

What makes me say this you might ask? Several years ago Michael Vick, an NFL quarterback who had just signed one of the most lucrative contracts in NFL history at the time was charged and ultimately convicted — yes I said convicted — of dog fighting and other related charges, for which he served time in prison. Upon his release he was reinstated to the league and retired in 2017.

Now we have Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns facing possible charges of sexual assault levied at him by some 20 women — the team is currently appealing a six-game suspension, apparently because they think that penalty is too harsh.

I know what penalty I would give him if I were the judge — suspension until when and if he is found not guilty on all charges; that way there can be no doubt in any players mind of the seriousness of breaking the law in any form.

Meanwhile, Colin Kaepernick, whose only “crime” was kneeling during the nation anthem to protest police brutality, has been blackballed from playing ever since. So, just to be clear, dog fighting conviction, serve your time and “come on back”; accused of sexual assault by 20-plus women, “don’t be so harsh on him, maybe he didn’t do it.”

In my opinion, the NFL should be holding itself up to the highest moral standards possible to be an example that the rest of sports can only admire. Instead they pander to the lowest common denominator of fans who would chastise someone for taking a knee for his beliefs and than allow these other criminals and possible criminals more or less a free pass.

NFL teams should have had a bidding war for Colin Kaepernick, not a blackballing.Absolutely disgusting, Just sayin’.

On a lighter note, it’s a little known fact the William Tell and his son were on a bowling league. Now, unfortunately, there is no record of what team they bowled for, so I guess we will never know “For Whom the Tells Bowled”.

Larry Benson

Enumclaw