Rosie O'Donnell called the National Football League a natural place for abusive men Monday morning on The View, where she is back as a co-host for the second time.
The women were discussing the NFL's actions with Ray Rice, who is serving an indefinite suspension from the league after the full video surfaced in which he punched his fiancé Janay Palmer.
O'Donnell didn't agree with the backlash and punishment Rice is receiving for his actions.
"They're encouraged and paid to be violent," says O'Donnell. "Same with fighters, with boxers. They live in an arena of - it would be wonderful if they were able to separate the violence of their job with the violence in their life! But I don't think that's how human brains work. And believe me, I don't excuse any violence towards anyone, but I do understand how a guy who knocks people over and pushes them down for a living and gets cheered might do that in his private life, even though it's wrong."
Co-host Rosie Perez responded by referencing Nelson Mandela's peaceful personality, despite the fact he was a boxer.
