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<p>Until this week, that’s how seriously the league took domestic violence: less than a quarter of a game suspension on average. (Compare that to the marijuana suspension policy: 4 games up to a full season.)</p>
<p><a href=“http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955”>http://sidespin.kinja.com/roger-goodell-is-a-domestic-violence-enabler-who-must-b-1632385955</a></p>
<p>It looks like the Broncos have real issues. I’m at least glad to see that in the two recent cases for my team they let one guy go on the spot and the other was not resigned (his incident was just after the season ended). I really do think that coaches, GMs and owners across the league have the power to do more than they are doing RE hiring choices.</p>
<p>People are asking the wrong question. The question should be “why did it take public airing of the video for the NFL to take the action they did when they knew what Rice had done because he admitted it?” Denial, denial, denial.</p>
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<p>Sidebar: An interesting comparison, yes? Sanctions? Wins vacated? Million dollar fines? etc. </p>
<p>Oh, and anyone that may have attended, watched or supported the Ravens (or insert a myriad of NFL team names who have allowed felonry) maligned and slandered for, you know, helping to create “the culture”? Oh, and even if you haven’t attended, watched or supported the Ravens, well, you’re just some collateral damage and still part of “the culture”?</p>
<p>Yep, an interesting comparison. Of course, it also begs the question: when you sit down tonight for you weekly NFL IV drip, are you supporting, you know, “the culture” that perpetuates/prospers this type of behavior?</p>
<p>Sylvan, great point! </p>
<p>Agree with Sylvan. I think the media and public’s roaring indignation is off the mark. Unless I am wrong, the NFL knew the exact details of the crime because Rice acknowledged it when the initial video was disclosed months ago. All this seems to be about now is pointing fingers and ‘gotcha.’ What’s the point of yelling for Goodell’s resignation now? He revised the domestic violence policy that people were asking for. The real hot water he is in is that players have big problems with what they feel is inconsistency and imbalance in sanctions. </p>
<p>Let me start by saying that what Rice did was reprehensible. I am shocked that NOW everyone is shocked because theyve seen what happened in the elevator. What did everyone think happened in the elevator? We saw that his then fiancee was unconscious as he drug her out of the elevator, and clearly it wasnt because she passed out or anything as evidenced by his movements and lack of concern. </p>
<p>Now having said all of that, there are a few things that should be clarified. 1) The outrage should stop about him entering a diversion program. It is common practice for a person with no criminal history to enter a diversion program whether it be for theft or assault. The prosecutor and/or judge only followed common practices.
2) Goddell should go because if he knew and is lying thats grounds for dismissal, but also because of his hypocrisy. Remember when the New Orleans Saints were fined because one of the “bounty program?” Well Goodell meted out the most punishments in the history of the NFL, even disciplining the owner, who said he knew nothing about it. Goodells response was he shouldve known what went on since he was in charge. Whats good for the goose, is good for the gander.</p>
<p>Ironically, Goodell didn’t do Rice any favors by suspending him for only two games. If he had suspended him for six, or for a year, then Rice might not have lost his whole career when the tape was released. I don’t feel sorry for Rice, exactly, but I don’t think his wife–the woman he hit–is necessarily happy that his livelihood has been destroyed.</p>
<p>No, she’s made that very clear.</p>
<p>“Ignorance is no excuse” is what Goodell said when he suspended Sean Payton for a year. I agree that he should live by his own words. </p>
<p>The team owners would have to vote Goodell out and it’s clear that they won’t do that - he’s made them too much money - but he could, and should, resign. </p>
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I felt sorry for her when he hit her as a girlfriend. I feel zero sympathy ever since she married her meal-ticket attacker. </p>
<p>This is the same Roger Goodell and the same NFL who have been sedulously covering up and denying the health risks of concussions for years. Why should we expect better of them?</p>
<p>Cardinal Fang and Partyof5; you’re right. When one thinks of Goodell’s slight of hand in the concussions controversy, then who is to say he’s been forthright about the video?</p>
<p>They have known each other for years so while I don’t get marring someone who does that I don’t buy the “meal ticket” condemnation. I do believe that they are in love (as they see it) and they have a very long standing relationship. She didn’t just meet him at a bar after he became rich. They have been together since they were teens. They already had a daughter together so that further complicates the decision to stay or go. Yes . . . in our sane, removed minds we would all get as far away as possible and take the child with us. That is almost never how these situations play out though, and it doesn’t matter what the income bracket of either party is.</p>
<p>I would also remind people what happened to Chris Henry’s fiancé when she got in the truck and tried to leave. It isn’t that easy.</p>
<p>The NFL cover story will now have to be that not only is AP lying, but so is ESPN.</p>
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<p><a href=“ESPNers Are Pissed At The NFL Over Its Ray Rice Video Claims”>http://deadspin.com/espners-are-pissed-at-the-nfl-over-its-ray-rice-video-c-1632424069</a></p>
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And the elevator incident was the only time he hit her before she married him…</p>
<p>I have no trouble believing both that they are in love (as they see it) and that the elevator beating was part of a pattern of abuse. That’s how it tends to work with domestic violence. The abused person end up staying with their abusers, for a variety of reasons, some more reasonable than others.</p>
<p>True, but I believe that your characterization of it as a monetary transaction are off base. You used the H-word before to describe his now wife. I would say that whatever your feeling are on that, even actual prostitutes who formally exchange sex for money can be raped, beaten and killed and the fact that they had a financial agreement to exchange sex for money doesn’t make the rest of it any less of a crime and doesn’t mean that she consented to being knocked unconscious. In fact, many women who are beaten by a partner take the partner’s word for it that they WON’T do it again. They stay based on that tenuous promise. </p>
<p>One of my friends just posted this on Facebook. Not sure who said it first.</p>
<p>“Next month, the NFL trots out its dumb pink uniforms, “supporting” a breast cancer charity. Ostensibly, this is to promote awareness of women’s health. Yet this becomes another in the long line of Roger Goodell’s hypocrises. How many of the men wearing these pink uniforms have been protected by the commissioner’s office for themselves harming a woman?”</p>
<p>Read a good article on that matter yesterday, Sally305. Writer said next month’s “Pink Out” will be a farce, not only because of the women/violence issue, but also because relatively little of the proceeds from the pink uniforms, shoes etc. goes to the cause. A good chunk of it goes to the NFL, whose financial donations to breast cancer research are not as prodigious as they would have the public believe.</p>