Ray Rice

After TMZ Sports released the video of Ray Rice punching his now-wife in an elevator, the Baltimore Ravens released the running back and shortly thereafter, the NFL suspended Rice indefinitely. Rice missed the first week of the NFL season as he was serving a two-game suspension.

Steven’s take:
Not sure what is more disturbing here. That the NFL could not get their hands on this video until it was released by TMZ or the fact that Ray Rice did not seemed all that concerned with the fact that he knocked out his fiancee and she was not moving at all? Rice tried to move her and when he could not lift her up, he just left her face down on the floor.

The league released the following statement to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport:

 

We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator. That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today.”

Well, that statement is also disturbing! How is it that one of the most powerful sports organizations in the world could not get their hands on a video that a internet entertainment tabloid was able to acquire so easily? If you did see and are saying you didn’t, your lying. If you didn’t see it and could not get it, your incompetent. Either way you slice it, the NFL does not come out looking very good.

The Ravens should also be held accountable. This was an organization that happily stood behind Rice and allowed him to use the team to hold a press conference with his wife to try and clear his name. This is a team that would have gladly started Rice in Week 3 had this video not surfaced.

Finally to Rice himself. This video is just disgraceful. He should not be allowed to play again and I hope and pray that he and his wife get all the help they need.