Ray McDonald arrested for domestic violence, per report
Ray McDonald will be the first test for the NFL’s new domestic violence policy.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald was arrested at 2:48 AM Sunday morning for felony domestic violence, according to a report by Damian Trujillo of NBC Bay Area. San Jose police have confirmed the arrest to Trujillo. McDonald will be the first player to test the NFL's new domestic violence policy, which could mean that the 49ers lineman will face at least a six-game suspension.
“McDonald was taken into custody with out incident and booked into Santa Clara County Jail on felony domestic violence charges,” the San Jose police department told Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently admitted that he was wrong in giving Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice just a two-game suspension for a domestic violence incident involving Rice's now wife, leading the NFL to change its policy on domestic violence. Players will now face a six-game suspension for their first domestic violence incident, following by a lifetime ban for the second.
According to Trujillo, the victim in this alleged incident is pregnant, which could lead to McDonald’s potential suspension being more harsh than simply six games. From Goodell’s statement on domestic violence earlier in the week:
Among the circumstances that would merit a more severe penalty would be a prior incident before joining the NFL, or violence involving a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child. A second offense will result in banishment from the NFL; while an individual may petition for reinstatement after one year, there will be no presumption or assurance that the petition will be granted. These disciplinary standards will apply to all NFL personnel.
McDonald has a DUI arrest in his past but hasn’t had any off-the-field incidents otherwise. That does not matter with the new policy on domestic violence, however.
The 29-year-old defensive lineman was originally drafted in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft and signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension in 2011.
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