Ray Rice - Ravens NFL Player suspended
The Ravens released Ray Rice and the NFL has suspended him indefinately for striking his wife. How did they both think she was knocked on conscious if he did not hit her??? Now because a video has surfaced showing the assault the punishment becomes greater. Both the Ravens and the League knew he punched her before now and they are trying to cover their ass and bow to public opinion.
I'm sure that Little Ray Ray downplayed what happened in the elevator because he knew that the team and league didn't have access to it and probably thought they never would. If there's anything in that video that is contrary to what he told them, they certainly don't have to abide by any agreement that was reached.
Plus, the team can cut him at any time for any reason; there's no disputing that. Only the increase in punishment from the NFL is open for debate.
But you're absolutely right... this is all because of the negative backlash that they received for the initial 2-game suspension.
Ray Rice violently assaults another human being (illegal in ALL states - with an actual victim) and he receives pre-trial intervention (PTI) to avoid jail time in NJ.
Shaneen Allen peacefully possessed a firearm in NJ (legal in most states - no victim) and she is denied pre-trial intervention in NJ. Currently awaiting trial in jail.
It was the *same judge and prosecutor* in both cases.
This is the "common sense" of which people speak? I guess football is really important.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/07/shaneen-allen_n_5659383.html
Hard to believe the NFL, which is so diligent about "protecting the shield," did not see this video when it first surfaced.
Im sure he knew there was a video and knew it would surface sooner or later. He definitely would NOT have apologized if he didn't think he'd get caught.
This is one time that I won't feel sorry for his stupid wife when she's found beaten or dead now. She still married him and now she won't have to testify against him. Shame on you.
I wonder how his poor mother who was so sportive of him feels now that everything is out.
Judy, you also have to take into consideration his behavior on the video AFTER the assault; the callousness, the lack of concern for her well-being and his treating her like a 200 pound sack of potatoes instead of the mother of his daughter who he supposedly loved. Not once did he kneel down to see if she was ok. He just stood over her and treated her with contempt, as if it were HER fault that he had to physically carry her out of the elevator. That type of behavior belies his later claims of contrition and remorse; the only thing he's sorry about is the fallout.
I just had the same conversation with a friend Iphone. I can't wrap my brain around the fact that she married him AFTER he did this...
These are the people that are put on pedestals in the USA and paid millions too. But she still married him cause she wuvs him soooo much . And maybe she like the money too. Money cant buy you class.
Sep '14
His behavior after the assault was all we saw initially and was the reason he was suspended in the first place. The league suspended him for 2 games and the fallout from that lack of punishment was tremendous, so much so that the league changed it's policy to be more punitive (6 games for first offenders) and rather than up Ray Rice's suspension to more games they decided to bow to the pressure. Rice was wrong and should have been suspended, but he was just as wrong on the day he punched his wife as he is today. The league is now raising the level of guilt to appease the fans. Interested to see the player's unions response to this.
Were criminal charges for Assault ever filed against him? He knocks his then girlfriend out and no arrest, but a store clerk is charged with simple assault for hugging a customer. Re her testifying: I believe a judge can order her to testify since the incident happened before the marriage. Also, today you don't always need the victim to press charges. The Prosecutor can do so on behalf of the State if there is sufficient evidence to support the charges without the testimony of the victim.
I believe the NFL and therefore its players think they are so big and powerful, and popular, that so long as a player can run, tackle, pass, catch etc. the public will overlook anything else they do. Perhaps they are waking up to the fact that there are some lines you can't cross even if you are the Powerful NFL. The adoring public has to wake up too. We give some of these players, in all sports, too much leeway in their behavior because we care more about winning and the game than we rightfully should.
"The league is now raising the level of guilt to appease the fans." Judy I have to ask. What if the victim was your daughter, your mother, or even yourself? Your judgement appears to be a bit cloudy Judy. Do you really condone the NFL's decision? How low do your standards go to make a so called buck?
Sep '14
What are the stores (especially the ones in the Baltimore metro) going to do with their inventory of Ray Rice jerseys?
JBJSKJ - Rice was offered pre-trial intervention, which is apparently offered to many first time offenders. This deal was that he would participate in a program for one year and no charges would be filed. However, the arrest would still be of record.
That said, the prosecutor was most likely swayed by outside influences in making the decision on this one based on the brutality of the crime. He should have been prosecuted since the video evidence would most likely have been enough for a conviction.
Andy funny that you should mention Ray Rice Jersey. So my nephew is 7 years old, and he is (now was) a big fan. He would wear his little jersey around, we were trying to explain to him earlier when this happened that he did something bad but he is only 7 and wasn't getting it, he had a melt down when they tried to take the jersey away. Well last night his mom had on the news, not knowing what was coming and he saw the video. He went into his room got the jersey and handed it to his parents and said I'm not going to wear this anymore because he did a real bad thing and you shouldn't hit girls.
Good for him Jrzy.
Regarding the jerseys, I suggest the same solution as I did for the Vick incident...... BONFIRE!
I have to ask the question, if he hit another man who , pushed him and spit on him, would it be treated the same way??
The question, for me, is why he's not in jail? I did not see anyone hit nor spit on him. The footage shows him very close to her as they got in the elevator and possibly hitting her and she tried to fight back and got knocked out, then dragged like a "bag of potatoes" with no regard to her well being. Jail time, like any other felon.
As to why she married him and decided to take responsibility for stating that it "was her fault" ... this is part of the domestic violence cycle. She's been convinced by him that she deserved what she got and it's sickening.
We need to support the victims and stop blaming them ... that's what abusers do.
So true happy2bhere!
Even if she is going to live "The Life of Luxury," it will be a life of misery. The abuse will only get worse..it's not worth all the money in the world.
happy - See my post above as to why he is not in jail regarding PTI. Greasing the right palms can get you out of anything.
I, for one, am not blaming the wife for the incident in that video with the assumption it was the first time he ever hit her. The fault is all his. But since she married him after that, I would not feel sorry for her if he hit her again. She should have left him after it happened.
"But since she married him after that, I would not feel sorry for her if he hit her again. She should have left him after it happened."
If she left him before they were married, she wouldn't get 50% of his assets in a divorce.
I don't think she's even thinking about the money. I think it's him manipulating her in order to confuse the situation ... remember, abusers are usually narcissists and they want the world to think well of them. So, he keeps the cycle of abuse/honeymoon going until he gets her to marry him so he looks good and the public is confused and now focused on her and why she married him instead of focusing on him and the fact that what he did was a felony .... see how it works? DV is very subtle and coercive. If you look at her pics you can see that she is not happy and probably there by force to help him save face.
I saw your post, Calico, and you're correct. As for her leaving, I think his mind games got the best of her and it's a really difficult cycle to break out of as the violence & manipulation usually escalate when the victim tries to break free.
I worry about her now. Who do you think he will blame for the end of his career? I hope she has a good support system - most likely not, as her father walked her down the isle and gave her away to this creep. I hope she can find her, IDK, strength to remove herself and her daughter from such a miserable situation. If she is in it for the money - go book tour and get away from him.
Sep '14
Justthoughts ~ I totally agree. She just released a press release defending him and their privacy, etc., etc. It's typical denial that happens in these types of cases where the victim becomes fragmented and does not recognize the abuse for what it is. When getting bombarded on a daily basis with all that entails DV (not just physical violence, but emotional and psychological ... which is where it starts, btw) it's hard to decipher what is real and what is not.
Anyone remember the movie Gaslight? In it it shows how a man keeps turning the lights down and when the wife notices it, he tells her she's crazy and eventually she begins to doubt herself and does feel crazy ... because she knows what she's experiencing, but is constantly told that it's not so. Same thing with Karen Ann Quinlan, she defended her kidnappers and needed a lot of help after being rescued.
This is very sad and cause for worry. We all have females in our lives ... daughters, sisters, cousins, aunts, mothers, etc. I think it would behoove us to educate ourselves on this topic and the Battered Women's Shelter is a great place to start. Call them and ask questions. It's a huge, ugly, scary puzzle but so well worth the time it takes to get to put the pieces together and get to know the signs in order to be proactive. It could save a life and will probably help society move away from the taboo that DV is and has been for far too long.
Karen Ann Quinlan got wasted on Valium, Darvocet and booze and slipped into a coma where she remained for more than a decade. She was famous for the right-to-die movement, not being kidnapped... did you mean Patty Hearst?
Mark, that's 50% of the "marital assets", meaning the money he's made since they got married. Since he hasn't played a game since then, I have to assume those assets are essentially zero. She wouldn't get anything if they divorced now.
"Mark, that's 50% of the "marital assets", meaning the money he's made since they got married. "
Then what's the point of pre-nup's if existing assets are automatically off limits?
I think the safety of those assets depends on the ability of the lawyers to go after them...
Here's an article on Stockholm Syndrome ~
https://rainn.org/get-information/effects-of-sexual-assault/stockholm-syndrome
"Then what's the point of pre-nup's if existing assets are automatically off limits?"
Existing assets, if extensive, can generate quite a bit of interest/dividend/growth that you might not want to share if the marriage goes south quickly. Say you're a billionaire and the market goes up 200 points... how many millions did you just make? She's entitled to half of it.
He obviously didn't have that type of money, but if he had anything in the market, I'm sure it's increased since February. He's grossed $28M or so over his 6 year career. How much of that went to the government and how much is left, who knows?
http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/09/ray_rice_video_how_much_money_he_loses_by_having_his_contract_terminated.html
JBJSKJ assault charges were filed against him and would believe they also filed assault charges against her but later dropped them he pled guilty to the charges and since it was his first offense [that we know of ] he is being allowed to go and attend anger management classes instead of jail time
Sep '14
I could care less about this whole affair.
It does concern me that people are paying so much attention to this just because the guy is a celebrity.
jjmonth
I agree the world is going to hell in a hand basket and all you hear on the news is this episode of Ray Rice. There must be 100's of domestic violence episodes everyday in this country and we keep hearing about this one because he plays in the NFL.
judy - Although I generally agree with your comment, good can come of this. Believe it or not, there are many who live under a rock so to speak. Statistics on domestic violence will come out due to this and educate those who might only pay attention to sports news rather than general news. That can't be a bad thing.
that is the one bit of good news - a spotlight is, at least for now, on this all too common problem
Calico, do you really think any of our elected clowns or talking heads would care if, for instance, your husband assaulted you like that?
There are plenty of laws and programs which address domestic violence. In many cases....and despite the efforts of many wonderful souls who volunteer to participate in intervention programs...the women (or men, in some cases) just go back for more. I have also heard of cases where the women are out for vengeance and allege domestic violence to get back at their partner.
I view this as just another opportunity for the news media to distract the tv-addled masses and our elected clowns to do some grandstanding.
jj - I understand what you are saying and I agree. I think you are missing my point I was trying to make. The fact that this is a media frenzy will bring the statistics of how big of an issue domestic violence is to another group of people can be a good thing. Maybe people will make donations to organizations who help the victims of domestic violence. Just like the social media craze over the ALS bucket challenge informed many about ALS who may have previously never heard of it. The ALS Foundation made millions, another good thing.
Reporters should do their due diligence and continue to question and harass every member of the Ravens about what they knew and when they knew it for at least two more days. They can stop around 8:30 on Thursday night, but between now and then they should be relentless and not suffer them a moment's peace.
Now that the public has seen Rice wallop his female companion, there is widespread anger, no more "benefit of the doubt" for him as to what happened.
Officials (the "suits") of the Ravens and the NFL are looking really bad right now.
Don Imus used to call those guys "that talking hair-do," but then, Imus has had his share of problems and controversies and contrite apologies, too.
One problem with reporting in this day and age -- there aren't as many reporters as there used to be, and more and more of them are not getting paid a full-time living wage.
Our country will suffer in many ways in the future if that continues.
Andy, are you referring to just print reporters? Because if you count television and internet sources, I'm sure there are way more reporters today than ever before...
The National Organization for Women has called for the resignation of Roger Goodell. Hopefully, some good will come out of this situation after all. I can't think of anything that would be better for football than Roger Goodell not being a part of it.
They should drop all charges. It didn't seem to bother his girlfriend who married the $6 million dollar man. It only bother others who shouldn't even be concerned.
It would have more meaning if she pressed charges against him. Then those outside the family, who are concerned, would be justified.
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2014/09/report_nfl_has_had_a_copy_of_latest_ray_ray_assault_video_since_april.html#incart_m-rpt-1
I was referring to a shortage of real journalistically trained reporters, who get out there and dig for things and make sure what they report is factual. No rumor or opinion, just facts.
Well, AP got quite the bombshell from a reputable source this afternoon, and an authentic sound tape to boot, verifying that the NFL office did get that tape of Rice's knockout punch, from law enforcement authorities in April. So, why did the NFL office say they never had a chance to review the tape?
Now we've got women's groups calling for the commish to resign.
You could tell Goodell was very uncomfortable when asked that question in the interview yesterday. Harvey Levin at TtMZ said that the NFL had indeed saw the tape months before he released it.
You would have to be dumb as a stump to believe that nobody at the NFL had seen that elevator tape. The NFL has access to whatever they want. They employ the best of the best in the security and investigation field.
I think it's really very simple to resolve these situations as they occur. First off assault and battery can be prosecuted by the legal system to the fullest extent of the law. When the prosecution is completed and the perpetrator is convicted then the league can invoke the morals clause in the NFL contract and suspend the player permanently. No second chances. Ray Carruth was convicted of murdering his pregnant girl friend, and now Aaron is on trial for triple murder. This behavior is rampant in the NFL when you compare the amount of incidents to the population of the league's players compared to the rest of a society. If it is handled by the criminal justice system first, the teams and the league can ban them for life, as they should. The down side if their is one, is that many talented football players will be out of a job.
Lots of women in Ray Rice jerseys chanting his name at the game tonight (per the radio announcer.)
Women backing him. WTF!
Rice now saying he told the commissioner about hitting her. Come on, of course he's going to say that now, because they banned him from football. Pay back. What a jerk he is.
bothered - There are several people corroborating Rice's statement that told the commissioner the truth. That he punched his fiancee in the elevator.
That said, in these type of situations we never really know the full truth. The only thing we know for sure is that he decked her because we have actual video evidence of it.
It's also clearly stated in the police report. The NFL and Ravens screwed up. They used the video as a chance to make it right but that has backfired IMO. Both parties are screwed and they deserve it.
I didnt hear that. On the news they said Rice said he told commissioner. Nothing about other people were there.
He deserves jail time. IMO
Yes, he does deserved jail time. But that ship has sailed and it can't happen now.
There's the rub... all these people coming out and railing against the NFL. It's not really their role in society to punish criminals for their offenses; we used to leave that up to law enforcement. Where is the outrage that should be directed at the Atlantic City Police Department and the Atlantic County prosecutor's office?
ianimal - I agree. That prosecutor should resign IMO. But what is even more frightening, according to various legal sources PTI is standard procedure for first time offenders of domestic violence in NJ if the case is not tried. Which brings up the fact that the laws need to be reexamined IMO. There should be no standard there, it should be degrees of offense. They guy who smacks his wife and gives her a swollen lip might deserve PTI, but someone who savagely punches a woman and knocks her out probably shouldn't be eligible. First offense or not.
As I said before, I think all sports leagues need to adopt new standards in regards to criminals. Professional sports needs to stop being a destination for thugs and other law breakers to be reckless and become millionaires. Most corporations have certain policies regarding felony convictions of their employees. Many companies will not employ someone without a criminal background check. As a private corporation, that's their right. The NFL is a private corporation.
Well, if the courts would do their job and put violent felons in prison for 10 years or more (and keep them there for the duration), I doubt that their playing careers would even be an issue.
But, unfortunately, the prisons are so overcrowded with non-violent drug offenders such that the overcrowding leads to plea bargains and early releases for the people who REALLY deserve to be there.
Another Head ache for Goodell
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/09/12/adrian-peterson-indicted-for-child-abuse/
Why cant it happen now? He has never been charged for punching her, so charge him now and put him in jail.
A very good explanation of the law and the reasoning behind the action..
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/09/veteran_criminal_attorneys_weigh_in_on_rice_prosecution_guilty_plea_for_newark_teen_who_killed_three.html#incart_river
ESPN's Outside the Lines investigation reveals the timeline of the Ray Rice cover-up and whitewashing by the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL.
http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/11551518/how-ray-rice-scandal-unfolded-baltimore-ravens-roger-goodell-nfl
Nj.com says he won his appeal and is reinstated to NFL immediately. Disgusting!
What a role model for kids.Agree it is disgusting! He will still make millions of dollars.
Now all he needs is a team. I think either Andy Reid or Bill Belichick might pick him up. ;-)
The Jets could use a new RB. Buffalo could use an upgrade. Seattle is going to cut Lynch so that may be a very small possibility. Texans could cut Foster who is always hurt and pick up Rice. Heck, Dallas isn't guaranteed to bring Murray back due to cap reasons. They'll probably sign Peterson before Rice though.
Hope he gets help for his anger management issues.
Jesus said, let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Sooner or later, we have to forgive people, as long as they are contrite and seek help so they won't repeat their misdeeds.
Ray has been punished, though many seem to think he has not suffered enough.
Nobody said forgiving is easy, but sooner or later, if we insist on not forgiving, we only end up hurting ourselves.
With this verdict, the arbitrator has said in no uncertain terms that she believes Goodell is a liar. I want to see this pursued to the bitter end, even if takes an organization as superfluous as TMZ to make it happen.
It took someone as superfluous as Jose Canseco to get baseball to do something about steroids.
ESPN should remake that commercial where the guy at ESPN headquarters is waiting to take the elevator down, but it opens and the NJ Devil mascot is on there already, and the guy backs off and decides that he doesn't want to take an elevator down with the devil.
Just replace the devil with Rice, how funny would that be?????!!!!!!
I'm not crazy about it,... the NJ Devil mascot is just a cartoon character, and I thought the spot was really funny. Mascots are harmless and funny, it is what they are meant to be.
Ray Rice is a real person who did something reprehensibly violent ... first of all, he should not profit from it ..... and such a spot would be ... not funny at all.
Sorry.
As an SNL skit, it would be hilarious. Obviously, you don't want to allow him to profit from it, but piling on the ridicule isn't the worst thing in the world.
Even better would be two elevators side by side... the first one opens to reveal the Devil and the would-be passenger is hesitant to hop aboard. Then the second elevator opens to reveal that really short black comedian whose name escapes me wearing a purple #27 jersey. The guy then rushes into the elevator with the Devil and the doors close.
Thinking of Chris Rock? I haven't seen him do anything about Ray Rice but if anybody can make it work, he can.
I was at the Ravens' game on Sunday and saw all these people wearing Ray Rice jerseys, kept thinking, come on people, give it up, send those things to Africa, where they are still wearing shirts that say Buffalo Bills World Champions.
Chris Rock cracked me up when he went on Letterman and talked about how the Mets have no money ... I believe I posted it.
No, Chris Rock doesn't quite have the build for the part, lol. I was thinking of Kevin Hart (I had to look his name up) who's been pretty popular lately. I think "Ride Along" with Ice Cube last year was his first big vehicle, but I may be wrong about that. I also just saw him in "This is the End" with Seth Rogan and James Franco, which made me think of him.
He's a lot more stocky than Chris Rock and probably even shorter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Hart
All joking aside, including my own, if that guy had done that to my daughter, suspension or not, he wouldn't be able to play football anymore, except in a wheelchair league.
Reggie Voter, in principle, I'm with you... but I'm thinking that you or I wouldn't have taken that left hook any better than she did.
So, then.. he's in a wheelchair, you're in prison and your daughter is still with him, only now she gets to change his diapers and wipe his ass and there's no $ coming in. You may want to rethink that plan... it's got a few holes in it (-;
Anybody who has played football knows, the guy who retaliates is the guy who gets flagged, the guy the ref sees ... the zebras never see the act that started something.
Isn't fair, but that's what happens.
I know from experience that I can take a punch ... a guy landed one on me with all he had and when he saw me still standing there, the fear in his eyes was retribution enough. If I'd given him what he deserved, I'd have ended up in jail.
That was 40 years ago, though.
After watching his interview on NBC this morning, I must admit, the guy is a lot more likeable than Matt Lauer.
Before the Atlantic City episode, Ray Rice was very well liked, by Rutgers and Ravens fans.
When it hit me (symbolic pun intended) I was really shocked. Ray Rice?
He was at a popularity scale approaching guys like Unitas, Ripken, and Brooks Robinson over there, for goodness sake.
A guy saw me rooting for the Ravens at a sports bar once, and asked, "how can you root for Ray Lewis?" I said, no, I'm rooting for Ray Rice and Joe Flacco, and that satisfied him.
It will take a long time, but if he gets help with anger management (and perhaps controlling his drinking, too) he'll get that good image back.
But, goodness gracious, there have been times when I was younger, when I drank too much and was angry with my wife about something, but I never hit her. We often agreed to just sleep on something and talk it over in the morning, if that helps Ray any.
He'll NEVER live it down... and you're right, he was beloved in quite a few places. There were images of him all over Rutgers Stadium that have been removed, never to return... here's why:
A Scottish old timer in Scotland, in a bar, talking to a young man.
The Old Man says, "Lad, look out there to the field. Do ya see that fence? Look how well it's built. I built that fence stone by stone with me own two hands. I piled it for months."
"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Fence-Builder? Nooo..."
Then the old man gestured at the bar. "Look here at the bar. Do ya see how smooth and just it is? I planed that surface down by me own achin' back. I carved that wood with me own hard labour, for eight days."
"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Bar-builder? Nooo..."
Then the old man points out the window. "Eh, Laddy, look out to sea...Do ya see that pier that stretches out as far as the eye can see? I built that pier with the sweat off me back. I nailed it board by board."
"But do they call me McGreggor-the-Pier-Builder? Nooo..."
Then the old man looks around nervously, trying to make sure no one is paying attention.
"But ya f!@k one goat..."
Yeah, poor pathetic Pete. This isn't about him, and I really enjoyed watching him play for the Big Red Machine and later the Phillies at the Vet. Out of all the people I rubbed elbows with when I was covering Philly sports, I never saw anybody with Pete's fire and intensity ... even a half hour after a game, he was pumped.
But, would we spend money watching any of these games, if there was credible suspicion that the results were fixed?
He won a fight, doesn't mean we're going to like him
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/sports/mayweather-wins-fight-preens-and-is-booed.html?_r=0
About last night's fight, which I didn't watch, Richard Neer on WFAN said,
"I suppose you have to separate the art from the artist" when someone who is very unlikeable is successful in sports.
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