National Football League

Chiefs hold moment of silence

Published Dec. 2, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A moment of silence for victims of domestic violence was held at Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers.

The NFL and the Chiefs made the decision Saturday to play Sunday's game despite the fact that 30 hours earlier Chiefs starting linebacker Javon Belcher allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend before driving to Arrowhead Stadium and committing suicide in front of general manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel.

The decision to play the game — and the notion that any moment that honored Belcher would then honor a murderer — has been a source of debate and consternation in Kansas City and across the country.

While Chiefs officials declined to speak on length on who made the decision for Sunday's moment of silence, they stressed it would be in honor of the victims of domestic violence.