Big problem: It took more video for the NFL to act as it should on Ray Rice
Sep 9, 2014, 6:52 PM | Updated: 6:52 pm
Now that we’ve learned the fate of Ray Rice with Monday’s news of him being cut by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL, what is the one major takeaway?
Domestic violence assault cases are only deemed seriously by the league when video surfaces.
On July 27, Rice was suspended by the NFL for two games following his Feb. 15 arrest for assaulting his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer. Many, including myself, felt the suspension was too lenient. Since when is smoking pot a worse offense that laying a hand on a woman?
We know that Rice assaulted Janay. He admitted it. But fortunately for him and his career, the league found it in its heart to forgive him and offer a light sentence. To think that he would have been playing in Week 3 of the new season had the video not been released!
So, what changed? TMZ released video! That’s the only thing that has changed. Rice went from a two-game suspension to the possibility of never playing another down again over a video. Does the release of the video change the particulars of the case that much? I say no. He should have been handed the severe sentence on July 27.
It sets a bad precedent when justice is only served when video footage is present. That is a bad message to send to the millions of domestic violence victims across the nation.
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