NFL thread 2014 v. Frankford Yellow Jackets Lay the Pipe on the Dayton Triangles

[KevShmev]

TMZ now has the video of Ray Rice cold-cocking his now-wife:

https://m.tmz.com/#Article/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video

If the NFL saw this beforehand, unreal that the guy only got two games.  Despicable.

[jingle.boy]

Jezuz... not a lot of remorse there either, dragging her half way out of the elevator and just dropping her.

[King Postwhore]

Too bad this wasn't out earlier.  Bad men do these things.  Nobody should cheer for him.

[El Barto]

The video didn't really show anything that he didn't cop to already. By all accounts he was very forthcoming and didn't try to sugarcoat anything when talking to the league or the team. While Goodel didn't have access to the video, I'm not sure it would have mattered. As for now, since he's already catching flack for the lightness of the penalty I wouldn't be surprised if he added on a couple of games citing the new evidence. It wouldn't be particularly fair, but at this point nobody gives a damn about fair when beating up your old lady is involved.

[KevShmev]

I don't think the CBA allows them to extend or add another suspension, cause of the whole double jeopardy thing.  But if they did, while the NFLPA would fight it, public sentiment would be so heavily slanted against Rice, it might not be a fight the union wants to sign up for.

[King Postwhore]

I didn't read Rice's account Bart but he did admit to hitting her?

[jingle.boy]

You can be damned sure ANY slip up by Rice will be dealt swiftly and heavily with extreme prejudice to compensate for screwing up how the league dealt with this one.

[KevShmev]

I would bet money TMZ has had this footage for at least a few days and waited till this morning to release it.  It's the day after the first Sunday of football and this is all anyone is gonna talk about today.  This is what the NFL gets for the way they handled it.  And at what point does the Ravens organization step up and take a stand?  Or are they okay with one of their players getting a slap on the wrist for this?  Their silence will speak volumes.

[ReaPsTA]

The Ravens have to cut Rice now, unless they want this to spiral further out of control.

Tape never lies.  The situation didn't appear to be particularly tense or animated.  Rice just punched her hard enough to knock her out... for some reason.

[bosk1]

The Ravens have to cut Rice now...

Interestingly enough, I had not thought about that rather obvious solution. 

[King Postwhore]

I think the NFL will extend his suspension to 6 to 8 games and I don't think the NFLPA will fight this at all.

[jingle.boy]

It's tricky... the right thing to do is just that Joe.  But the whole 'double jeopardy' is an issue too.  The NFLPA would be foolish to fight it though.

I do think it would be a good idea to cut him.  No other team in their right mind would pick him up for at least a few months til this shit is not front-and-centre in the media.  Maybe even the next off-season.  That effectively gives him the suspension he should've got.

He could then come and play in the CFL for a few months at least. 

[ReaPsTA]

I think the NFL will extend his suspension to 6 to 8 games and I don't think the NFLPA will fight this at all.

This would put the NFLPA in an excruciatingly bad position.  The CBA doesn't allow the NFL to extend his suspension.  But, like you said, it would be PR suicide to campaign against doing so.

You'd hope that Goodell wouldn't use this as an opportunity to whittle away at the NFLPA's power, but I wouldn't put such a thing past him.

[ReaPsTA]

Deadspin brought up an interesting piece of speculation - That the NFL had seen the tape but is lying about not having seen it.

Schefter makes sure to clearly state that multiple reporters, including ESPN's Jane McManus and SI's Peter King, had it on good authority that the league had seen the tape. He might as well be holding up a sign that reads, "THE NFL IS LYING TO US."

I wouldn't bet on it being true, but I wouldn't be surprised either.

[KevShmev]

I think the NFL is lying. 

Besides the punch, the worst thing about the video is how nonchalant Rice was right after that.  He didn't react like OMG what did I just do; he reacted like it was no big deal, like it's something he does all the time.

I predict the Ravens release him within a day. 

[ReaPsTA]

The year before the lockout, the NFL had a year without a salary cap.  Mysteriously, most of the teams seemed to be obeying some sort of secret agreement.  The NFL assured the players this was not happening.

After the lockout, the leagued punished the Redskins and Cowboys for violating a written agreement putting into place a secret salary cap.

The league should be judged by its actions, no?

[ReaPsTA]

And...... Ray Rice is gone.

[Dimitrius]

https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/509043216977371136

[KevShmev]

Well, that didn't take long.

[hefdaddy42]

Well, holy shit.

[jingle.boy]

That's faster than RJ at the casino!

[El Barto]

I think the NFL will extend his suspension to 6 to 8 games and I don't think the NFLPA will fight this at all.

This would put the NFLPA in an excruciatingly bad position.  The CBA doesn't allow the NFL to extend his suspension.  But, like you said, it would be PR suicide to campaign against doing so.

You'd hope that Goodell wouldn't use this as an opportunity to whittle away at the NFLPA's power, but I wouldn't put such a thing past him.

For the record, the NFLPA should have taken up such a case because it's their job and the right thing to do. Publicity doesn't mean shit to what they should and actually do. I view them much like the ACLU, in they both catch a tremendous amount of flack for the issues they take up, but in all of those cases the issues matter as much to the so-called good guys as they do the bad actors. In this case, yeah, defending a guy who coldcocked his old lady looks pretty shitty, but the league and the player are both bound by a set of rules and allowing the league to alter them to address one case would be damaging to all of the players and the NFL itself.

[El Barto]

And now we might just find out. Appears the league just suspended him indefinitely. You won't see me defending Ray Rice the player, but I certainly will with regards to the rule of law.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

To me this is another example of the sketchiness of the NFL and pro sports in general. The tape didn't reveal any new information, at least not that I'm aware. This makes me think that the Ravens cutting Rice was purely a PR move and they couldn't care less about what he actually did.

[snapple]

I won't watch another NFL game until Goodell is no longer commissioner.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

The video was horrible, and removes all doubt. I wish that all crimes/despicable acts were filmed. Would make it so much easier.

The NFL stated they NEVER saw that video until today. If the Ravens saw that months ago, and turned the other cheek, then I would seriously question continuing to be a fan of the team. But the swift reaction today has made me hopeful that the Ravens did not see the video until today. I hope this is a case of them doing the right thing, and not covering their own asses.

Two Ray Rice jerseys are getting thrown away at this house today Good riddance.

[jingle.boy]

To me this is another example of the sketchiness of the NFL and pro sports in general. The tape didn't reveal any new information, at least not that I'm aware. This makes me think that the Ravens cutting Rice was purely a PR move and they couldn't care less about what he actually did.

I'd like to hope that isn't the case, but the question will always be in the back of my mind.

[lonestar]

That's faster than RJ at the casino!

Nah, I was out of there before the news broke.

[ReaPsTA]

For the record, the NFLPA should have taken up such a case because it's their job and the right thing to do. Publicity doesn't mean shit to what they should and actually do. I view them much like the ACLU, in they both catch a tremendous amount of flack for the issues they take up, but in all of those cases the issues matter as much to the so-called good guys as they do the bad actors. In this case, yeah, defending a guy who coldcocked his old lady looks pretty shitty, but the league and the player are both bound by a set of rules and allowing the league to alter them to address one case would be damaging to all of the players and the NFL itself.

I agree with you entirely.  If I were running the NFLPA, I'd be appealing Rice's suspension immediately and filing a lawsuit if that appeal failed.  Increasing his suspension, in violation of the CBA, sets catastrophic precedent.

The thing though is that bad PR just got Ray Rice cut.  It also forced Donald Sterling and now Bruce Levenson to sell their sports teams.  PR has very real power in the Internet era.  The NFLPA better be ready for the blowback.

[KevShmev]

The NFL was merely trying to act like, "Hey, we are gonna act after this new information, too," but, given the PR nightmare it would be, they likely didn't have to do it, since I don't see any team signing Rice in 2014.  I could see a team eventually giving him a shot next year or something once the outcry dies down a bit, but this year?  No freaking way.

The bottom line is that the NFL and Baltimore Ravens both dropped the ball big time months ago.

And think about those bozos in the stands in Baltimore who loudly cheered Rice at the one preseason game.

[KevShmev]

Anyway, back to regular football chatter:

-Luck should get some type of award for carrying that offense the way he does.  No running game and no line.  It's basically all on him and the passing game.
-RG3 may never be what he was his rookie year again, but why is Jay Gruden trying to turn him into a pocket QB?  That's called not utilizing his skill set to the max.  If Gruden wants a pocket QB, he mights as well just start Cousins next week and trade RG3.
-If/when Cordarrelle Patterson evolves in a great NFL route runner/pass catcher, he is gonna be scary good.
-J.J. Watt might be the best NFL player.  At any position.
-Chiefs fans finally got to feel the agony of Andy Reid ignoring their stud RB for most of a game.
-Jake Locker looked good, but can he stay healthy?

[King Postwhore]

Agreed on all accounts Kev.


BTW, Bart and Reap, I don't disagree at all and it is their job to protect player but boy I was thinking that the pressure the NFLPA would be under by doing their job and that I'd like to see that pressure on the players. 

Also, Scott Zolak and ex QB for the Pats on the radio today was cursing how the QB's are being protected these days.  I agree.  The league and all these rules they are stressing is playing into to the fans of fantasy Football.

I know how big Fantasy Football is but it's getting real close to flag football and I'm not liking it.  Protect the heads of players I'm all for, the other stuff is nonsense.

[bosk1]

Kev, can you please stay on topic?  If you want to talk about that other stuff, that's fine, but don't do it in the Ray Rice thread. 

[Destiny Of Chaos]

And think about those bozos in the stands in Baltimore who loudly cheered Rice at the one preseason game.

Bozos? I don't think that's fair, especially since the video just came out today.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Kev, can you please stay on topic?  If you want to talk about that other stuff, that's fine, but don't do it in the Ray Rice thread.

Ray Rice? According to the Thread Title, we should be talking about the Saints