Ray Rice

[Donoghus]

Anybody been following this?  TMZ released a new video that shows in the inside of the elevator and Ray throwing a couple of haymakers at his now wife.

NFL is claiming that they're just seeing this video for the first time although there are certainly some conflicting accounts of whether that is true, including a Peter King MMQB article from July where he mentions they had.

If the NFL had seen the video prior to today and still only dished out a 2 game suspension, I don't even know where to begin.  It would be ineptitude of the highest degree and would make you really scratch your head about how they do things in the league office.

Rice is an utter scumbag.

[fairweatherfan]

This Ray Rice situation reminds me a lot of the Sterling situation - this kind of crap, and worse, has been happening for a looooong time, but it takes something the public can see and hear to get real action.  The real offense in the NFL's eyes isn't the actual behavior but tarnishing the league's brand in a very public way. 

Better late than never on putting some real teeth on domestic violence penalties, though.  It's been a problem for much too long (not just in the NFL, either).

[D.o.s.]

League had almost certainly seen the video. The 'new' NFL ruling on DV is 110% hot air, because it was always Goodell's decision as to what the punishment could have been. The only reason it's being changed is because of the outcry re: Rice.

[Donoghus]

League had almost certainly seen the video. The 'new' NFL ruling on DV is 110% hot air, because it was always Goodell's decision as to what the punishment could have been. The only reason it's being changed is because of the outcry re: Rice.

Yeah, I'm not really buying that this is the first time the NFL has seen the tape. 

[JHTruth]

It is what it is. Not to be cynical, but does anyone really believe this is a rare event in pro sports? These men make more money in a game than most of do in years, and are worshiped as Gods by much of the populace. Many people care more about fantasy football than they do about anything else. Is it surprising at all that they feel they can operate under a different code of ethics than the rest of us?

Before decrying the league for its penalty re: Rice, be honest with yourself how many times you've given an athlete on your favorite team the benefit of the doubt..

[D.o.s.]

It is what it is. Not to be cynical, but does anyone really believe this is a rare event in pro sports? These men make more money in a game than most of do in years, and are worshiped as Gods by much of the populace. Many people care more about fantasy football than they do about anything else. Is it surprising at all that they feel they can operate under a different code of ethics than the rest of us?

Before decrying the league for its penalty re: Rice, be honest with yourself how many times you've given an athlete on your favorite team the benefit of the doubt..

Typically professional sports leagues are harder on players that are found guilty in a public fashion -- and giving someone the benefit of the doubt is significantly more difficult when something like the first bout of footage, the elevator security cam stuff, was released. This isn't about Rice at all: his behavior is unacceptable regardless. This is about the sad sack way the NFL handled the situation because they know enough of their fans are troglodytes who will be more than ready to overlook this 'minor indiscretion' in order to cheer for the Ravens for another season.

The NFL also made his wife out to be equally culpable -- that was obvious when they made her apologize at their presser. That's deplorable. So, no, the league is completely 110% in the wrong on this one, and they went way too lightly on Rice because he sells a ton of jerseys. Eff them.

[Donoghus]

It is what it is. Not to be cynical, but does anyone really believe this is a rare event in pro sports? These men make more money in a game than most of do in years, and are worshiped as Gods by much of the populace. Many people care more about fantasy football than they do about anything else. Is it surprising at all that they feel they can operate under a different code of ethics than the rest of us?

Before decrying the league for its penalty re: Rice, be honest with yourself how many times you've given an athlete on your favorite team the benefit of the doubt..

I don't think there's any room to give Ray Rice the benefit of the doubt here.  It's all on tape.

[Fafnir]

League had almost certainly seen the video. The 'new' NFL ruling on DV is 110% hot air, because it was always Goodell's decision as to what the punishment could have been. The only reason it's being changed is because of the outcry re: Rice.

Yeah, I'm not really buying that this is the first time the NFL has seen the tape.

They claimed to have seen it in July to Peter King and multiple other connected high profile NFL writers.

Now that its out there they're claiming they never saw it, but that's AFTER the outrage changed the conversation.

[Donoghus]

League had almost certainly seen the video. The 'new' NFL ruling on DV is 110% hot air, because it was always Goodell's decision as to what the punishment could have been. The only reason it's being changed is because of the outcry re: Rice.

Yeah, I'm not really buying that this is the first time the NFL has seen the tape.

They claimed to have seen it in July to Peter King and multiple other connected high profile NFL writers.

Now that its out there they're claiming they never saw it, but that's AFTER the outrage changed the conversation.

Yup.  I've never been a fan of Goodell to begin and this is just making him look more inept & clueless.

[D.o.s.]

... But remember, .00001% of the profits from that pink Ray Rice jersey will go to fighting breast cancer.

[JHTruth]

It is what it is. Not to be cynical, but does anyone really believe this is a rare event in pro sports? These men make more money in a game than most of do in years, and are worshiped as Gods by much of the populace. Many people care more about fantasy football than they do about anything else. Is it surprising at all that they feel they can operate under a different code of ethics than the rest of us?

Before decrying the league for its penalty re: Rice, be honest with yourself how many times you've given an athlete on your favorite team the benefit of the doubt..

Typically professional sports leagues are harder on players that are found guilty in a public fashion -- and giving someone the benefit of the doubt is significantly more difficult when something like the first bout of footage, the elevator security cam stuff, was released. This isn't about Rice at all: his behavior is unacceptable regardless. This is about the sad sack way the NFL handled the situation because they know enough of their fans are troglodytes who will be more than ready to overlook this 'minor indiscretion' in order to cheer for the Ravens for another season.

The NFL also made his wife out to be equally culpable -- that was obvious when they made her apologize at their presser. That's deplorable. So, no, the league is completely 110% in the wrong on this one, and they went way too lightly on Rice because he sells a ton of jerseys. Eff them.

So let me guess, you're going to boycott the league? 

[Fafnir]

So let me guess, you're going to boycott the league? 

Right because if you're not all in absolutist, you can't be worthy of more than an eye roll?

[JHTruth]

So let me guess, you're going to boycott the league? 

Right because if you're not all in absolutist, you can't be worthy of more than an eye roll?

My point is, OF COURSE what Rice did was deplorable. The other sad fact is, hardly anyone REALLY cares. It's not going to change their devotion to football one freaking iota. So we can be spared all the condemnation of the league that many willingly hand over many of their hard-earned dollars to support..

[Fafnir]

Before decrying the league for its penalty re: Rice, be honest with yourself how many times you've given an athlete on your favorite team the benefit of the doubt..

Before playing that card consider how often we've been given primary source evidence of what exactly happened and not highly filtered news accounts.

Furthermore the idea that because we weren't sufficiently outraged at past incidents means that we can't react to this current one is asinine. That maxim would forbid any and all change, or any reaction to anything.

[Fafnir]

So let me guess, you're going to boycott the league? 

Right because if you're not all in absolutist, you can't be worthy of more than an eye roll?

My point is, OF COURSE what Rice did was deplorable. The other sad fact is, hardly anyone REALLY cares. It's not going to change their devotion to football one freaking iota. So we can be spared all the condemnation of the league that many willingly hand over many of their hard-earned dollars to support..

It must be nice for you to know exactly how much everyone cares. I'm sorry for the terrible burden of people talking about it when you know in their hearts that they only really care about fantasy football.

The fact that a lot of people don't care about domestic violence very much is true. But when you're crying out for people to stop talking about it you do realize that's the reaction of people who are the problem? They have no other possible thing to say but desperately change the subject.

That's what the ESPN water-carriers for the NFL are doing after all. They know where they make their money.