Some Ottawa Redblacks players are calling on the Canadian Football League to take a stronger stance on violence against women after NFL running back Ray Rice was caught on video assaulting his then-fiancée.

"Something needs to be there, in place.… We need to have something that's bigger and better to take away even their livelihood … which would really hit home and really send a true message, not only to that individual who caused the act, but also the people out there, showing that we don't condone the act," said quarterback Henry Burris.

Burris said there would be wide support among players in the CFL to entrench an anti-domestic violence policy in its player code of conduct.

"I think it would definitely clear up the grey areas and definitely just make things clearer if we did include that in the code of conduct," said Redblacks offensive lineman Joe Eppele.

"So I definitely think it's something that should [happen], and I'd be very surprised if it didn't come into play very soon for us."

CFL to look at 'more definitive language' in code of conduct

The CFL has had brushes with domestic violence before. Last year, former Calgary Stampeder Joffrey Reynolds was convicted of assault after breaking into his ex-girlfriend's house and choking her. Reynolds was not playing in the CFL when he was found guilty.

In an emailed statement, a league spokesman said the CFL's constitution does empower the commissioner to discipline players for off-field issues that bring the league into disrepute.

"However, in light of recent events, we will look at supporting and reinforcing the commissioner’s powers under the constitution with some more definitive language within the code of conduct," Jamie Dykstra wrote.

The CFL announced on Tuesday it's honouring the NFL’s indefinite suspension of Rice by making him ineligible to play in the CFL.

The league office is also currently in discussions with a women's group about a possible league-wide partnership to promote awareness about the impact of violence against women and respect for women, Dykstra wrote.