The Ravens were justified in firing Ray Rice. I also believe that they-the Ravens and the NFL- are lying when they say they didn’t see the latest tapes until this week. To that point, while justified, I believe the actions are based in faulty intentions both at the league and franchise level.
The NFL has exposed as many, if not more character flaws this week, than Ray Rice has in the entire fiasco. What mandated counselling can the league seek? Above this, I’m actually surprised that more NFL players aren’t abusive. The atmosphere of ultimate manhood, physicality, and testosterone has created a mentality where I’m surprised that NFL players can live a life where they’re able to put down the monster that they’re paid, by the millions, to be on the field, and in the weight room and just be regular people. Finally, for as cool and calculated as the NFL wishes you to think that they are, the point should be made that they’ve completely freaked the hell out during this process and moved in multiple directions at once. The initial suspension was for two games. Then, announced a new policy that called for a 6-game suspension on first offences. Then, after this video came out, he was suspended indefinitely and his contract terminated. Which is it NFL? This ain’t video games, Roger. We’re dealing with people’s real lives. My hope, above all else in this situation, is that the power-drunk NFL commissioner can be brought back down to earth. Ray Rice made a mistake…a bad one. The NFL needs to learn to differentiate its ass from a hole in the ground.
They were completely justified. Took them long enough. They should have suspended him immediately pending investigation. That video was absolutely horrific. I think the real thing is that the cover up was on. There is NO WAY that the multibillion dollar NFL and/or the Ravens didn’t have access to that video. And if they DID see it, and John Harbaugh called that “a mistake”. I’ll be…just dumbfounded. A mistake is calling today August 10th, not September 10th. Knocking your then fiancée out cold is a crime. And one that needs to be prosecuted as such. But terminating his contract was the only thing that could be done. It HAD to be done. And if TMZ really are the only ones who were able to get their hands on that video, then the NFL and Roger Goodell need to start taking lessons from them.
I do believe the Ravens are justified in their outright release of Ray Rice. However, I do not agree with the way it was done. The NFL and Roger Goodell should have handled this the right way from the beginning. Now everyone is being brought from objective to subjective opinion because the video of the incident has surfaced. Why should seeing a video all of a sudden make the punishment more severe? Everyone already knew what happened inside of that elevator between Rice and his fiancée, seeing it should not have changed anything. Of course I do not condone what took place, nor do I condone domestic abuse, but the fact that seeing a video all of a sudden made the Ravens organization feel more obligated to take action now, just doesn’t add up. Again, if the appropriate response had been reached the first time, this would not even be an issue. Not to mention that this makes the NFL look even worse now than before. The next course of action that the NFL needs to take is to find a new commissioner. A non-biased commissioner who can handle these type of situations justly and correctly the first time. Roger Goodell’s authority and reputation have seriously been brought into question over the last few years, and this incident alone is a perfect example on why he no longer has what it takes to do the job.
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