Risky Business

Domestic issues are front and centre with the NFL and one question is when will it officially end, but that is the question of the day?

The Bears officially released Ray McDonald who was first drafted in the 3rd round 97th overall by the 49ers all following a domestic violence and child endangerment situation.

The arrest took place in Santa Clara around 7am while he physically assaulted the victim while she was holding a baby in her arms.

Initially the Bears had signed him to a one year contract, knowing full well of his history of legal issues while with the 49ers.

The signing was given the OK by Chairman George McCaskey allowing GM Ryan Pace after the seasoned McDonald flew to Chicago to meet with the Bears management team.

Most believe in giving someone a second chance, but how many second chances can one be given especially playing a pro sport.

The Bears signed him and he was told what their expectations were from the start, so the onus was clearly on him and not the team.

His contract he signed with the Bears was worth $1.05 million, with no money guaranteed to him on this contract signing.

It is reported that the police were called to an apartment in Santa Clara at 3:48 am but found out that he had left, but later on he was found at a home in San Jose.

The San Jose address where he was arrested belongs to ex-49ers teammate Justin Smith, according to the property records and apparently Smith has not been implicated in the incident.

According to NBC Bay Area he (McDonald) went out with friends and asked the woman to leave when he decided to return to the apartment.

The  one making the accusations is McDonald’s former fiancée, who ironically was also the alleged victim in an incident dating back to August.

McDonald has his issues and it’s noted that San Francisco released McDonald in December because of what 49ers GM Trent Baalke called a “pattern of poor behavior.”

His release from the 49ers came a month after the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office announced it had declined to file charges against McDonald in a separate domestic violence investigation.

All stemming from an arrest on Aug. 31 while celebrating his 30th birthday at his Northern California home.

Given the problems that the NFL has been facing the  past while, quite possibly it’s time they took a page out of the BC Lions “play-book” and got rid of all the rotten apples in the bottom of the barrel.

The history of the Bears is long dating back to 1920 and not one that should be tarnished by anyone that can’t control what and how they act both on and off the field.