5 NFL suspensions that shattered a player's reputation feat. Ben Roethlisberger, Deshaun Watson 

#3 - Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice

Ray Rice's domestic violence case is one of the most notorious storylines in NFL history from start to finish, from what happened to the way it was handled. Rice and his then-fiancée and now-wife Janay Palmer were arrested in Atlantic City following a heated fight between the two. The league initially suspended Rice for two games, which Goodell admits was a huge mistake.

Clear video footage of the entire incident was later released and went public, showing graphic details. Rice knocked Palmer unconscious and dragged her out of an elevator by her hair. He initially faced criminal charges, which were later dropped when he and Palmer got married. Rice was suspended indefinitely, but was never signed by another team after eventually being reinstated.

#4 - Greg Hardy

Dallas Cowboys DE Greg Hardy

Greg Hardy was found guilty of assault after he reportedly threw a woman onto a futon that was covered in assault rifles in his home. He initially faced serious criminal charges, but they were later dropped when the alleged victim chose not to testify on the witness stand.

The NFL suspended Hardy for ten games, despite him avoiding major criminal charges and potential jail time. The suspension was later reduced to four games after a successful appeal.

#5 - Deshaun Watson

Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson has been accused of multiple cases of sexual misconduct. While he was unable to be indicted on criminal charges due to a lack of substantial evidence, he still faced 24 civil lawsuits and many more accusations.

Most of the civil cases have already been settled out of court as Watson looks for resolution. He has been suspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season and will await to see if the league appeals the third-party ruling.