In 2014, after Ray Rice was caught on camera punching his then-fiancée in an elevator, the NFL implemented a new personal conduct policy; violations that involved domestic violence would be addressed with a baseline six-game suspension. The league also hired Todd Jones as chief disciplinary officer in March 2015. The NFLs soul-searching had been replaced by action and new policy.A lot has changed since then, and the NFLs hard line on consequences isnt quite as clear as it once seemed. Just take a look at how the policy has evolved.Last week, Giants kicker Josh Brown received a one-game suspension because of a May 2015 incident in which police were called to his residence in Washington state and he was arrested. The charge, assault fourth degree/domestic violence, was later dropped.Since the six-game suspension language was added to the personal conduct policy, there have been nine NFL suspensions potentially related to domestic violence. In all but two of those cases, the league has upheld suspensions that have been fewer than six games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Thats despite the fact NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in 2014 that our standards, and the consequences of falling short, must be clear, consistent and current, and that consequences must be implemented through procedures that are fair and transparent.Earlier this month, free-agent tight end Andrew Quarless received a two-game suspension?for a July 2015 incident that involved firing a gun into the air after an argument with a woman. Quarless was fined and sentenced to probation.Before that, Washington linebacker Junior Galette got two games for a domestic violence-related case in which?charges were dropped. There was another incident where a man who appeared to be Galette threatened people on a beach by whipping a belt.And last year, the NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy for 10 games after an independent investigation found that he had used physical force against his former girlfriend in at least four instances. The suspension was later reduced to four games on appeal.Jonathan Dwyer was suspended for three games after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge in an incident where he allegedly head-butted his wife and broke her nose. (The incident took place in 2014 before the new policy was in place, although the suspension came after.) Two players, Jermaine Cunningham and Rodney Austin, received six-game suspensions in September 2015. Later in the season, Quincy Enunwa?and Joseph Randle got four games apiece.The NFL is finding that navigating the murky waters of domestic violence is complicated and not as clear-cut as a six-game baseline implies. Factors such as guns and a history of violence havent been increasing the length of suspensions as spelled out in the updated conduct policy. And other considerations, such as victim cooperation (or lack thereof), seem to be working in favor of the players.Jones said the expectation that every player who violates that element of the policy gets a six-game minimum suspension isnt helpful, because each case is different.You asked me, Is there something we should have more consideration of? Jones said, and thats not setting false expectations given 18 months of history.Implementing the domestic violence policy has been a challenge, Jones said. The NFLs conduct policy states that consideration would be given to any aggravating or mitigating factors in incidents of violations that involve domestic violence. But after the NFL Players Association challenged parts of the new code, the league has given more weight to a players expectation of due process and fairness in implementing it.The NFL cant subpoena players, and the NFLPA disputed both the grounds for and the application of the new blanket standards. Jones also noted that some of the incidents listed above took place before the new policy was in place (Dwyer), and others might be violence, but not necessarily domestic violence (Galette).[People] see six games for DV without an understanding of -- and I dont think we need to set all these definitions out, but we need to talk about it -- is this domestic violence or isnt it? Just because it involves gender dynamics doesnt mean it automatically kicks in an incident of domestic violence, Jones said.Browns one-game suspension was mitigated by a lack of clarity about what happened and a lack of cooperation from law enforcement and witnesses, Jones said. (Since Browns suspension was announced, an additional incident has been uncovered.)Its really hard, and often, victims arent forthcoming, said Anna Isaacson, NFL vice president of social responsibility.Getting to the truth of what happened during an incident can be complicated when a victim doesnt cooperate, something domestic violence experts and the legal system have recognized for years. After the league consulted with many domestic violence experts, the new policy was meant to take into account the reluctance that a man or woman might have in coming forward, perhaps fearing retaliation or economic consequences. Legal charges or consequences are expressly not a prerequisite for a violation to be identified.Not being able to talk to people isnt a mitigating factor. Thats an investigation issue, said Kim Gandy, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. If the intention of the NFL was to abide by what law enforcement or the judicial system did or didnt do, then that should have been the statement from the beginning.But the league may have unintentionally incentivized players to try to keep witnesses and victims from coming forward. If the players version is the only one the NFL can get, then that version might stand.Dan Werly, a sports lawyer and Charleston School of Law professor, says the commissioner has the ability to hear the appeal of domestic violence suspensions, and the courts have granted the league wide discretion in setting a policy as long as it is consistent in applying it.Its bizarre because we see Roger Goodell going the other way and getting tougher on non-domestic violence cases, Werly said.Jones said NFL investigations into its players are workplace investigations, which means they have to abide by processes laid out by the National Labor Relations Act.And some players havent been penalized. In two high-profile incidents, Johnny Manziel and Ray McDonald were investigated and no violations were found. Both men went on to have additional incidents. McDonald was arrested again?and subsequently charged with domestic violence. Manziel faces a charge in Dallas County after allegedly rupturing his then-girlfriends eardrum. Neither player is currently in the league.But with the legal record now in Manziels case, Jones emphasizes the NFLs commitment to consequences.Manziels got a six-game suspension thats hanging, Jones said. If a club ever rolls the dice and brings him on board, hes got a six-game suspension thats hanging right now.The NFL has done a lot to strengthen the education of players and, by extension, fans, about the effects of violence and assault. The league has put people in place to evaluate cases and recommend discipline. And still, the NFL isnt finding that task to be any easier than it was to begin with. Jerseys NFL Wholesale . 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With top seed Novak Djokovic and fellow big guns Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer not in action until Wednesday, it is fourth seed Wawrinka who will headline the action in Rome. 2016 Masters 1000 winners Indian Wells Novak Djokovic Miami Novak Djokovic Monte Carlo Rafa Nadal Madrid Novak Djokovic Also in action on Tuesday, sixth seed Nishikori takes on Viktor Troicki, David Ferrer meets Italian qualifier Filippo Volandri and Tomas Berdych will face Albert Ramos-Vinolas.Britain Aljaz Bedene is also on court - he will face Frances Stephane Robert, with the winner set to meet Novak Djokovic in the second round. Master of his trade Novak Djokovic is back on top of the Masters tree One to WatchStan Wawrinka is seeded fourth but has struggled to find his form of late, and other than a run to the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo, his Masters form has been disappoingThe Swiss ace lost in the second round to Nick Kyrgios in Madrid last week, and also suffered early defeats in Miami (Andrey Kuznetsov) and Indian Wells (David Goffin), so will be seeking a significant improvement as he prepares for the French Open, a title he is defending having beaten Novak Djokovic in the final last year. Benoit Paire is a tricky opponent for Wawrinka He faces another tough test in the shape of Beniot Paire, the Frenchman coming through after Bernard Tomic retired early on in their first-round match.ddddddddddddPaire is ranked 21 in the world and despite a defeat to Jack Sock last week in Madrid, he went into the event with two successive clay-court semi-finals under his belt and has a victory over Wawrinka in their last meeting to call on - a quarter-final in Marseille earlier this year. Surprise in StoreDavid Goffin, seeded 12th, looks to be in for a tough afternoon when he faces in-form American Jack Sock.The 23-year-old beat Juan Martin Del Potro on his way to the last 16 in Madrid last week, following on from a run to the final in Houston on his previous outing where he was beaten by Juan Monaco. Jack Sock is likely to cause David Goffin plenty of problems in their encounter That was his second final of the year and he is more than comfortable on the red dirt, while Goffin has looked slightly off the pace and needed three sets to see off Leonardo Mayer in the first round.The Belgian, who reached the semi-final in both Miami and Indian Wells, has suffered defeats to Lucas Pouille, Alexander Zverev and Marcel Granollers in his last three clay-court events.In Case You Missed ItAndy Murray announced his split from coach Amelie Mauresmo on Tuesday and he will be in action later this week. Murrays Mauresmo split British number one will end his partnership with Mauresmo There were also opening-round victories for Milos Raonic and Nick Kyrgios. The pair will clash in whats likely to be the most eagerly anticipated of second-round match-ups.You can follow all the action from Rome on Sky Sports 3 from 10am on Tuesday morning, all the way through until the close of play. Also See: Raonic sets up Kyrgios clash Murray splits from Mauresmo Djokovic claims Madrid crown Scores and Results ' ' '