Did the NFL overreact to Michael Sam's detractors?

The Dolphins came down hard on cornerback Don Jones. But the league has turned a blind eye to much worse offenses.

Don Jones, Ray Rice
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, Jeff Gross/Getty Images))

Last week, the NFL made history by crossing a barrier in sexual orientation. When the St. Louis Rams drafted Michael Sam, a prospect from nearby Mizzou, he became the first openly gay athlete to be selected in the league's annual draft.

The league, which has been stung by a bullying scandal in Miami and a pay-for-injury ring in New Orleans, might have hoped to get a boost in public relations from the Sam-Rams connection. Instead, a celebratory kiss inspired a derogatory tweet, and suddenly the league found itself in the center of controversy over its culture — and its disciplinary tactics.

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Edward Morrissey

Edward Morrissey has been writing about politics since 2003 in his blog, Captain's Quarters, and now writes for HotAir.com. His columns have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, The New York Sun, the Washington Times, and other newspapers. Morrissey has a daily Internet talk show on politics and culture at Hot Air. Since 2004, Morrissey has had a weekend talk radio show in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and often fills in as a guest on Salem Radio Network's nationally-syndicated shows. He lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters. Morrissey's new book, GOING RED, will be published by Crown Forum on April 5, 2016.