NFL arrests are endemic.  According to a database maintained by the San Diego Union-Tribune, there have been 458 NFL arrests since 2000.  Puritans that we are, we  target widespread sins such as strip clubs and casual drug use, but this focus obscures a greater problem for the NFL, domestic violence.

Since January 2008, 14 NFL players have been arrested or charged in suspected domestic violence incidents.  They are listed after the jump.

Richard Quinn: Police arrested the Broncos rookie Sept. 7, on suspicion of domestic violence.  A 22-year-old woman told police Quinn “grabbed and shook her to the ground during an argument and grabbed the phone from her when she was trying to dial 911.”  Quinn spent a night in jail.  He played in the first two regular season games for Denver.

Shawne Merriman: The Chargers star was arrested for an alleged assault on Tila “Tequila” Nguyen Sept. 7.  He reportedly tried to restrain her from leaving drunk at 3:45 AM.  The San Diego County district attorney found insufficient evidence to press charges.

Quinn Ojinnaka: The Falcons offensive lineman was arrested for battery of his wife on May 26.  Ojinnaka allegedly spit on his wife, threw her down stairs and threw her out of the house after she confronted him about a girl he befriended on Facebook.

Cornell Green: Mar. 21 the Oakland lineman was arrested at his home in Tampa .  He reportedly slammed his children’s mother into a wall and hit her with aluminum mop.

Willie Andrews: Then a New England CB, Andrews was charged with “assault with a dangerous weapon” June 30, 2008.  He pulled out a glock during an argument with a girlfriend at pointed it at her head.  Had a previous arrest Feb. 5, 2008  for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Ahmed Brooks: May 1, 2008, the Cincinnati linebacker was charged with a misdemeanor assault.  He allegedly punched a woman in the face.

Kalvin Pearson: April 26, 2008, the Lions safety was charged with aggravated battery on a pregnant woman and domestic battery by strangulation.  Charges were dropped.

Rocky Bernard: The Seattle DL was arrested  April 21, 2008, on domestic assault charges for hitting an ex-girlfriend at a night club.  Forced to attend domestic violence treatment program to have charges dropped.

Cedric Wilson: The former Pittsburgh wide receiver was arrested March 19, 2008.  He allegedly hit his ex-girlfriend in the face at a bar.

James Harrison: The Pittsburgh star was arrested March 8, 2008, on charges of “simple assault and criminal mischief.”  He broke down a bedroom door, after his girlfriend locked herself in, broke her cell phone in half and slapped her across the face.  The victim dropped the charges after Harrison went to counseling for anger management.

Brandon Marshall: The troubled Denver wideout’s girlfriend charged him with assault of her mouth and left eye March 6, 2008.  Marshall was acquitted.  The NFL suspended him one game for having his third arrest in a year.

Fabian Washington: Arrested on a domestic battery charge Feb. 19, 2008.  The police report said his girlfriend had red marks on her neck.  The NFL suspended him one game.

Jerome Mathis: The Houston wideout was arrested Feb. 18, 2008 for allegedly choking his common-law wife.  The charges were dropped.

Daniel Graham: Jan. 11, 2008, the Denver tight end was arrested for allegedly harassing his ex-girlfriend during an argument about their home sale.  Charges were dropped the next week.

Fourteen incidents involving NFL players in less than two years is too many, but that is only reported incidents.  Most domestic violence cases go unreported.  Researchers suggest there is “an iceberg of domestic violence.”  The numbers we see may only hint at a bigger problem.  The true number may be far greater.