Ray Rice

[fairweatherfan]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

[BballTim]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

  I may have said this earlier, but I think they might have gone too far in the other direction. The penalty in place for the 2nd offense is likely severe enough to discourage women from reporting instances of abuse.

[fairweatherfan]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

  I may have said this earlier, but I think they might have gone too far in the other direction. The penalty in place for the 2nd offense is likely severe enough to discourage women from reporting instances of abuse.

I have some qualms about that too - if the woman being abused intends to stay with the player (which happens all too often but is a different conversation), and he says "call the cops and you can kiss this lifestyle goodbye", you might see a chilling effect. 

Especially since even recanting after the fact like Janay Rice didn't affect her husband's penalty, and may have inadvertently increased it.

[D.o.s.]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

  I may have said this earlier, but I think they might have gone too far in the other direction. The penalty in place for the 2nd offense is likely severe enough to discourage women from reporting instances of abuse.

Unfortunately this is probably more preferable to the NFL.

[indeedproceed]

All this makes me wonder what happens if video surfaces of Michael Sam knocking out his boyfriend.

Makes me wonder what happens too. But what if instead of it being Michael Sam's perfectly average and unremarkable boyfriend, what if...it was a tiger?

Because if Michael Sam and a tiger were in an elevator in an Atlantic City Casino, and they had an argument, and the tiger was assaulted, would people be all up in arms about their media darling knocking out a tiger in a elevator? Of course not. People would be asking questions blaming the tiger, like, "Was it emitting aggressive pheromones?", or "Did this happen because of the Tiger's inability to communicate?", and people in the media would say things like, "Tigers who grew up in my neighborhood knew how to diffuse a situation and not antagonize the man."

It's a clear double standard and frankly, we shouldn't stand for such things.

[Donoghus]

All this makes me wonder what happens if video surfaces of Michael Sam knocking out his boyfriend.

Makes me wonder what happens too. But what if instead of it being Michael Sam's perfectly average and unremarkable boyfriend, what if...it was a tiger?

Because if Michael Sam and a tiger were in an elevator in an Atlantic City Casino, and they had an argument, and the tiger was assaulted, would people be all up in arms about their media darling knocking out a tiger in a elevator? Of course not. People would be asking questions blaming the tiger, like, "Was it emitting aggressive pheromones?", or "Did this happen because of the Tiger's inability to communicate?", and people in the media would say things like, "Tigers who grew up in my neighborhood knew how to diffuse a situation and not antagonize the man."

It's a clear double standard and frankly, we shouldn't stand for such things.

I don't know.  PETA and the bible thumpers would be pretty p*ssed off at Michael Sam.

[Fafnir]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

  I may have said this earlier, but I think they might have gone too far in the other direction. The penalty in place for the 2nd offense is likely severe enough to discourage women from reporting instances of abuse.

I have some qualms about that too - if the woman being abused intends to stay with the player (which happens all too often but is a different conversation), and he says "call the cops and you can kiss this lifestyle goodbye", you might see a chilling effect. 

Especially since even recanting after the fact like Janay Rice didn't affect her husband's penalty, and may have inadvertently increased it.

I hate the phrasing of lifestyle.

In many cases of abuse its not "lifestyle" instead they have to face the prospect of living in a shelter with no resume, job, or income and perhaps kids to feed.

[indeedproceed]

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/11498043/nfl-overreacted-ray-rice-floyd-mayweather-says

Floyd Mayweather says the NFL overreacted.

I'm having some real trouble coming up with a zinger here, it's so perfect.

[D.o.s.]

Mayweather Batters Media Over NFL Witchhunt

NFL Punishment Just Fell Down Some Stairs, Says Boxer, Was Fine As It Was

NFL Not 'Asking For It' from Media in Rice Case, Says Mayweather

[Tr1boy]

News is that the nfl may lift the suspension.  Rice being signed by another team is another story though

[fairweatherfan]

There are 56 instances of domestic violence described below since Roger Goodell became NFL Commissioner (September 2006-present). Of those 56 instances, players were suspended for a combined 13 games (not including Rice's indefinite suspension, which cannot be quantified). Out of 56 instances, only 10 players were released by their team.

http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955

Part of the reason why the NFL was so blindsided by the reaction is that 2 games really was a harsh penalty relative to what other domestic violence arrests have gotten.  Problem was those penalties/lack of penalties were rarely noticed on a national level, or this conversation would've happened a lot sooner.

  I may have said this earlier, but I think they might have gone too far in the other direction. The penalty in place for the 2nd offense is likely severe enough to discourage women from reporting instances of abuse.

I have some qualms about that too - if the woman being abused intends to stay with the player (which happens all too often but is a different conversation), and he says "call the cops and you can kiss this lifestyle goodbye", you might see a chilling effect. 

Especially since even recanting after the fact like Janay Rice didn't affect her husband's penalty, and may have inadvertently increased it.

I hate the phrasing of lifestyle.

In many cases of abuse its not "lifestyle" instead they have to face the prospect of living in a shelter with no resume, job, or income and perhaps kids to feed.

Semantically having housing/income/basic resources is a kind of lifestyle, but I know what you mean.

I agree with you, but we're specifically talking about professional football players here, who make very high salaries.  So not quite the same financial situation as typical cases.  My point was that if a woman is abused and knows that reporting it means a massive drop in income for a significant chunk of a very short career, more of them may choose to stay quiet.  Which would be a pretty terrible unintended consequence.

[LooseCannon]

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/11498043/nfl-overreacted-ray-rice-floyd-mayweather-says

Floyd Mayweather says the NFL overreacted.

I'm having some real trouble coming up with a zinger here, it's so perfect.

We should give Mayweather props for speaking from the heart because there's no way he was reading a prepared statement.

[Donoghus]

News is that the nfl may lift the suspension.  Rice being signed by another team is another story though

Ray Rice will not play in the NFL again this season. 

[Celtics4ever]

Sure the Browns would take a flyer on him.  Their lead RB is hurt now.

[Fafnir]

Semantically having housing/income/basic resources is a kind of lifestyle, but I know what you mean.

I agree with you, but we're specifically talking about professional football players here, who make very high salaries.  So not quite the same financial situation as typical cases.  My point was that if a woman is abused and knows that reporting it means a massive drop in income for a significant chunk of a very short career, more of them may choose to stay quiet.  Which would be a pretty terrible unintended consequence.

It isn't a financial typical situation for the couple, but we have zero idea if she has any access to those assets short of a divorce decree/alimony/child support.

Nor have I heard if she's likely to be in a position to support a family alone. I hate that assumption that "lifestyle" brings, makes it sound like they're trading the abusive situation for material wealth. The most common situation is that their are deep psychological ties that are complicated and also food security and housing security being threatened by the abuser if she leaves.