Ray Rice & Domestic Violence? Let's discuss this!

First, let's go back a year, to this play.

Mention “fourth-and-29″ to Chargers coach Norv Turner and you might not get such a happy memory. That’s what the Ravens faced on the first play after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter and Turner likely thought he’d get a win when Joe Flacco checked down to running back Ray Rice. Rice wound up figuring out a way to get the ball past the marker after a long run, however, and the Ravens had life.

Now, let's fast forward

Baltimore Raven Ray Rice indicted on assault charge

Police were called to the Revel Casino and Hotel in the early morning hours of February 15 to respond to a domestic dispute between the Pro-Bowl running back and his girlfriend, Janay Palmer.

"After reviewing surveillance footage it appeared both parties were involved in a physical altercation," read the Atlantic City Police report. Both Rice, 27, and Palmer, 26, struck each other with their hands, according to the complaint.

Both were arrested on assault charges and released the next morning. Shortly after the incident, TMZ.com posted surveillance video of a man it said was Rice dragging an apparently unconscious woman from an elevator at the Revel Casino. The video does not show either party striking the other.

Fast forward, a little more:

Ray Rice can avoid assault charges, still under league review

Ravens running back Ray Rice has been allowed to enter a pre-trial intervention which should prevent criminal charges for the alleged assault of his wife, but he still faces possible punishment from the NFL. According to Lynda Cohen of the Press of Atlantic City, Rice was accepted into the program which could cause the third-degree charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury to be dismissed. The arrest will remain on his record, but without a conviction.

Keep holding the fast forward button to July 25
Ray Rice suspended 2 games

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has been suspended for the first two games of this season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy following his offseason arrest for domestic violence. The suspension, which was announced Thursday by the league, stems from Rice's altercation with then-fiancée Janay Palmer at an Atlantic City hotel in February. Rice also was fined an additional regular-season game check but is eligible to participate in training camp and all of Baltimore's preseason games, the NFL announced.

Now to August 1
Thoughts From Ravens Camp: Teammates sincere in support of Ray Rice

Support For Rice: The staunch support that tailback Ray Rice has received from his teammates and other members of the franchise throughout the public uproar about his two-game suspension by the NFL isn’t just for show. It is genuine and Rice clearly remains well liked within the organization in the aftermath of the domestic violence incident in February in Atlantic City involving his now-wife, Janay.

Team officials say they aren’t condoning what Rice did but they don’t want to abandon him. Teammates say they want to do what they can to help him but, for the most part, the issue isn’t discussed among them.

“It’s never gonna be a problem inside the building,” fellow Ravens running back Bernard Pierce said Thursday. “We leave our problems at the door. You come in here, it should be business, should be working. So anything besides that, we just tune it out. This is our place of work.”

Yeah, sure! Until...

TMZ releases footage of Ray Rice punching wife

TMZ released disturbing new footage Monday morning of Ray Rice punching his wife in an Atlantic City elevator, sparking a new round of outrage over the league's decision to suspend him for just two games, including some current and former players calling for him to be thrown out of the NFL altogether.

Then, all the rats jump ship!

Ravens cut running back Ray Rice after domestic violence video is released

All the support the Baltimore Ravens gave Ray Rice this offseason as he dealt with his domestic violence incident evaporated after TMZ released video of the running back knocking out his wife. The team cut him on Monday afternoon.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the NFL had not seen the video of Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in a New Jersey elevator when it suspended Rice two games for domestic violence.

Roger Goodell has announced that based on new video evidence that became available today he has indefinitely suspended Ray Rice.

So, here's the question: why is that video, such a difference maker? I'm not a Raven's fan, but why is he being judged, AGAIN? He did everything they asked and he's being punished twice, for the same crime???

BTW: where was everyone's outrage, when this happened?
They say Ray Rice is a woman beater; but kept silent, when 5-0 beat the crap out of that lady. I guess people are too scared to stand, when it really matters???!!!

Cause they could hide behind "we don't know what happened in the elevator" stance.
To say they had not seen, or that video was not available to them is total and utter BS, how stupid do they think people are.
You can throw out that he is getting judged twice or punished twice, but when it comes to a private business, that goes.
They got the initial punishment wrong, and they admitted it. When this came out they had to beat everyone else to the punch and get it right then and there.

Oh and there was an outrage when that woman got beat up, but didn't you hear? She threw the first punch so the cop was just defending him self.

He is being judged again because there is now concrete evidence that will tarnish the Ravens organization. It is a business and the player is only an asset, and when that asset becomes something that will harm the image of the team then the team takes precedent. No matter how talented of a running back he may be. The entire league made a blunder in dealing with it this first time, so there is only one way to ensure that that is not repeated - termination and indefinite suspension. I believe that had this evidence been made available to the public in July, the same outcome that arose yesterday (being cut and suspended indefinitely) would have occurred.

Its basically a question of if they cut him because this video is now public, or if they cut him because they have now viewed this video. The latter being a result of an indiligent investigation and the former being an oversight as there was no concrete evidence that the public could view and Rice was still worth something in their eyes.

My two cents: He's a scum bag. You're a man and if your girl is pissing you off you take a breath and walk away. You don't act out your emotions and one punch your fiancee.

Screw him the NFL and the Ravens,they should burn for this..they tried to cover this siit up, an angry female swinging wildly at you the big tough ball player and you knocked her out and treated her body like a rag doll get no sympathy from me,either take the hit and walk away like Jay-Z or hold her till she calmed down..pat myself on my own back I have never laid hands on a woman for any reason ever..f-him!

a reply to: Spider879

I never saw her swing, unless it was right after he was doing those head motions at her, but it seems even then he is the one that slapped her.
And i think the nfl is going to have this whole " we just saw this video" come back and bite them.

a reply to: ImDaMan

Ray Rice lost his NFL football contract of $30 million. Excellent.

Now put him in jail.

Greetings- I could give You a medically retired cop's P.O.V. if You'd like? But now that I AM retired and don't 'have' to tolerate any shenanigans or tom foolery, I won't enter a 'pissing contest' if that were the case I'd just declare You the Victor, and to the Victor goes the spoils, a cup/vat of .... piss. Ergo, I have ample piss already...

I was going to wait to see if You 'agree' but for the sake of brevity on My end, I'll just type a quick blurb pointing out the differences.

What is the difference between the two? Let us call both 'males' attackers for the sake of this argument. One has professed a 'deep Love' and has asked the V-ictim to share His Life/Love. One is in a clearly marked uniform in the conduct of His employ (doing His job. We didn't see the whole video; When this female starts to resist and pulls away on a freeway then it becomes a "safety issue/traffic hazard" the # of wrecks by 'rubberneckers' and folks w/their attention diverted is staggering.) The cop's job is to "go home" What happened prior to the video beginning? Is/was She a danger to self? to others? What do You think the cops would do with anybody running about a freeway? It is much easier to arrest someone rather than do a traffic accident resulting in death(s). I guess She wasn't listening to any "Verbal Judo"?

As far as the NFL™ this video, although not in it's entirety, was shown prior to Ray Rice receiving the 2 game suspension. It only became a "who dunnit' after the one player gets suspended a full season for drug abuse (self injury) and only a 2 game suspension for Rice (injury to other)...


Personal note: The NFL™ hasn't paid taxes since 1966. Here in Flori-Duh the City of Jacksonville is laying off employees yet the Jaguars™ get a new World's Largest Screen for the ADD/ADHD fans that "need" to be entertained/diverted..
So when the NFL™ starts paying their taxes I'll give a squirt, they don't so I won't.

Please don't think I'm picking on the NFL™ because I think Organized Religion™ should also be taxed.

Rice got what he deserved. He was washed up anyways. I'm liking Forsett. I think he's going to be our RB now.

a reply to: supermouse

What overpriced pension? Even though I broke My back/neck it now costs Me $1207/month for Health Insurance. How should one be restrained on/about a freeway? What happens when She runs out in traffic and gets run over by someone "obeying the law" Vague idea? Did You see that it is the Highway Patrol, whose main function is "Public Safety" on "Public Roadways"

Was it handled in the best way it could? I wasn't there and didn't see what happened up to that point where the video began, how can any "judgement" be placed, either 'guilty' or not? But that didn't stop You from doing it, did it?

You win the aforementioned Vat of Piss. Stay thirsty someone's friend..

So I'd also opine that You've failed Your "clarification" test. Still cloudy w/a chance of rain..

The O.P. asked what the difference was. I apologize I didn't know it was rhetorical in nature...

Flame On!!!

the lady he hit is now mad they are treating her man so bad...maybe when he hit her she got a little brain damage?
that 25 million must make the man seem like a real sweetheart


www.cnn.com...

Goodell should step down if he is half a man. He knew damn right well that the tape existed of what went on inside the elevator. He tried to cover it up but TMZ ruined his plan. He should follow Ray Rice to the can.

a reply to: ImDaMan

The closed culture and commercial nature of the NFL distorts justice and values in unpredictable ways. Corporate values instead of human values.

When I saw the vid, I thought she struck him first, then she rushed him. Of course the uppercut was powerful, but in that instant, self-defense must be considered a reflex. I read later that she had spat in his face. That's an "allowance" some females still think they have. In a civil case with a jury trial, I believe he could easily win the case.

I have personally had a female decide she could strike me in anger without any concern that it would turn into combat. It turns out she was wrong.

So if you are reading this (male or female), you don't have a magic force field so don't start throwing blows and provoking people (male or female) if you are not ready for the results.

a reply to: InverseLookingGlass

So are you defending Rice's actions in this situation?

So TMZ suddenly releases this tape now ... out of the blue. Why not release it earlier on if it had always existed and the NFL was simply sitting on it to protect Rice? My guess, the NFL is right, they didn't have it, and neither did TMZ until recently which is why they only now released it. Don't you think it would have made a bigger impact to have released this right after Goodell and the NFL announced the original sentence?

As to what happened between Rice and his wife, neither of them are prizes. I am in no way excusing Rice. What he did deserves punishment, but what did she think she was doing provoking someone who was that physically powerful? The short answer is that you should never, ever lose control of yourself to the point where you are either provoking someone with that degree of physical development or allowing yourself to be provoked if you have that degree of physical development. It just isn't safe for anyone.

I was just in track and field, but my hip flexers and abductors and adductors were still powerful enough to press over 200 lbs in college and that was before getting to the main muscle groups. I could kick like a horse. My husband used to wrestle with me and tickle me and several times, I lost control and kicked him and doubled him up and left bruises. I didn't intend to, but it happened because he pushed me beyond control.

You just have to respect what you might be messing with, and you have to respect what you might be capable of. And it seems neither Rice nor his wife are at all cognizant of that.

originally posted by: Eliyahu
the lady he hit is now mad they are treating her man so bad...maybe when he hit her she got a little brain damage?
that 25 million must make the man seem like a real sweetheart


www.cnn.com...

Well you can bet she is bemoaning the loss of income....and the fact that Mr Rice has so much of that muscle memory defense mechanism when she lunged at him....and they may have been slightly intoxicated.

originally posted by: UnBreakable
Goodell should step down if he is half a man. He knew damn right well that the tape existed of what went on inside the elevator. He tried to cover it up but TMZ ruined his plan. He should follow Ray Rice to the can.

You know, and I am not saying that Goodell has something like a attorney privilege or was operating out of the 5th amendment area but I am not exactly sure in his position that he is obligated to act on information that is not public. Many of us can perhaps point to an occasion where we escaped public humiliation and discipline along these lines. Larger picture considerations. Its not all about Rice and his wife anyway.

originally posted by: InverseLookingGlass
a reply to: ImDaMan

The closed culture and commercial nature of the NFL distorts justice and values in unpredictable ways. Corporate values instead of human values.

When I saw the vid, I thought she struck him first, then she rushed him. Of course the uppercut was powerful, but in that instant, self-defense must be considered a reflex. I read later that she had spat in his face. That's an "allowance" some females still think they have. In a civil case with a jury trial, I believe he could easily win the case.

I have personally had a female decide she could strike me in anger without any concern that it would turn into combat. It turns out she was wrong.

So if you are reading this (male or female), you don't have a magic force field so don't start throwing blows and provoking people (male or female) if you are not ready for the results.

There are many ways to defend yourself without knocking someone out. So reading this, you are proud of yourself for striking a female. I am 6' 200 pounds, there is not much a 5'4" female could hurt me with.

ETA: I have several years of marshal arts and boxing training.

Well, it looks like Goodell is saying the NFL asked for the tape; but, the NFL is saying it didn't ask for it. My question is: Why the double prosecution? And, does his employer have the right to fire him, over a private matter??? Sure, TMZ made the matter public, but it was still a personal matter, that had nothing to do with his profession. Did they change their mind, based on the court of public opinion? What happened between the two of them was, really, none of our business.

men should not beat women ...period!...where is the outrage when a woman commits domestic violence...granted it happens alot less but it does happen