The domestic violence topic, which is currently so prevalent within the NFL actually appears to be a much deeper issue within the league than we all thought! A former general manager for the Chicago Bears, Jerry Angelo, who is a very respected man within the sporting world is actually being refreshingly honest about how he and most other teams looked at domestic violence for years. His story could definitely have some other teams questioning decisions they made. Hit the jump.

@IamJoeSports

Former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said NFL teams didn’t discipline players in “hundreds and hundreds” of domestic violence incidents during his 30-year career he said Thursday.

“We knew it was wrong,” Angelo told USA Today. “… For whatever reason, it just kind of got glossed over. I’m no psychiatrist, so I can’t really get into what that part of it is. I’m just telling you how I was. I’ve got to look at myself first. And I was part of that, but I didn’t stand alone.”

“Our business is to win games,” Angelo said. “We’ve got to win games, and the commissioner’s job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. But to start with that, you have to know who’s representing the shield. We got our priorities a little out of order.”

For him to be real enough to say they are in the business of winning games and sometimes they had to look the other way, especially when it came to a good player is respectable. The problem is why did it take him this long to realize the impact of those mistakes. One former Bears coach, Mike Ditka thought the same thing and called Angelo “gutless”.

“If you didn’t do anything while you were running the team, then shut up. Don’t live in the past,” Ditka said.

The Bears themselves also released a statement, totally distancing themselves from Angelo’s comments.

The Bears released a statement Thursday in response to Angelo’s comments, saying, “We were surprised by Jerry’s comments and do not know what he is referring to,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Usually however when it comes to something like this, when there is smoke, there is fire and I am sure at least some of Angelo’s comments are accurate.