Bob Quinn made his stance clear. So has Jim Caldwell. Neither the Detroit Lions general manager nor head coach has any tolerance for domestic violence.
It has been a consistent policy throughout the organization -- something that was recognized Monday when Lions owner Martha Ford was honored by the Women In Blue of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation with the Zero Tolerance Award for the team's stance on domestic violence.
While she has never publicly spoken out about domestic violence and gun issues, Quinn and Caldwell have been adamant about their stances on it. The release from thec also says explicitly this is Ford’s stance.
“As the owner of the Detroit Lions, she has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence and dangerous weapons,” the release read. “She is being recognized in honor of her commitment to stopping domestic violence and changing the culture in the NFL.”
She did speak at the Women in Blue ceremony Monday, but it was not open to the media. She has not taken questions from the media since briefly answering a couple of questions in January while leaving a news conference after Quinn was hired.
One of her players, linebacker DeAndre Levy, has become an outspoken advocate for stopping domestic violence, writing a first-person essay last month for The Player’s Tribune.
The Lions had one player, Rodney Austin, arrested for assaulting a female last offseason. He was released almost immediately and was later convicted.