Meritocracy doesn't reward people who push referees around unless they're a supreme talent, doesn't excuse domestic assault and rape charges for $$ and a premium draft trade, etc.
The NFL is a very tricky organization. I remember when every single team refused to draft a top tight end from Arkansas maybe because he may have had consensual relations with his underage niece when he was like 19 and she was 15. The guy never stood a chance but, like this case, I don't think the NFL tried to blackball him. Just everyone realized that there is only so much juice worth the squeeze.