Bryant's decision one that never should have been made

The Miami Dolphins are off this weekend, sitting at home with their feet propped up on an ottoman instead of a training table.  Instead of guzzling electrolytes they are probably downing some Bud Lites.  It is not that way for the rest of the NFL as games will be played.  There is one interesting side note that really just gets my blood to boil.  The decision of Tampa Bay Buccaneer place-kicker Matt Bryant to play.  While he may have decided that it was best for him, the decision should have been his and his alone to make.

Earlier in the week, Bryant and his wife lost their 3 month old baby.  As a paramedic, I can assure you that there is nothing in this world worse than losing a child...at any age.  I have seen the emotional tear it puts on a soul and it is painful.  Matt Bryant did not lose his mother, or his father, or any other relative.  He lost his son.  Not to suicide, not to carelessness, but simply because the Lord, if you believe in such, took him away.  While the Buccaneer's felt his pain and the outcrying of support from the Buc's fans and his teammates, owners, and coaches, was by far superb, the NFL not only dropped the ball, but put the Buc's and Bryant in a position he never should have to be in.

The NFL has a rule that a team can not receive a roster exemption for a player who will miss a game by his own accord.  His own decision.  Lose your wife on Saturday and while you will not have to be there on Sunday, your team will not be able to simply replace you.  For most members of a teams roster, that is fine.  There are depth spots available on your team.  Back-ups at every position but one.  Kicker.  

The NFL informed Tampa that they would not receive a roster exemption in the event that Bryant chose not to play so soon after his loss.  The Buc's were left with a decision.  Sign a free agent Kicker for one weekend and release a member of the 53 man roster thereby making him available VIA waivers, play the game without a kicker, or implore Bryant to play today.

While all of that is fine and dandy, the blood in my veins boils over when you know the rest of the story.  See it's not that the NFL doesn't allow the roster exemption that infuriates me, it's the fact that they allow roster exemptions for other things.  Those other things include...4 game drug suspensions by the league.  Game suspensions related to any league disciplinary action.  

So it's o.k. to go home and beat your wife and then walk over to the neighbors house, kick their dog, punch it's owner in the face, then drive off in a fit while boozed up, get in a wreck, get arrested, get suspended for two games, your team will be fine as they can go out and grab a guy to fill your spot.  No big deal. 

Lose a child to senselessness at the hands of a power greater than your own and a hand that doesn't hold a gun or a can of beer and sorry, play or don't play, we don't care but your team will not be given any leeway.  Great job NFL.  

While Commissioner Roger Goodell spends his weeks trying to figure out who he will suspend next or what other rule he can implement into the league to protect the 4 time failed drug test offenders, the vehicular manslaughter drunk drivers, and the "party boat" types, a guy like Matt Bryant does't have to choose if playing a game is where his mind really is, he has to choose if not playing the game leaves one of his teammates out of a job.

The NFL should be ashamed...and I'm sure they would be if somehow they thought it would affect their ratings.