NFL Off Topic

[ubernoob]

Re: NFL Off Topic

If you're the NFL, with a decent security staff, how did you "miss" this video? I realize glass houses and all of that, but I'm more looking at the league when it comes to something this substantial being put out via TMZ.

Like I've said... I don't think there is any way they didn't see this other than thinking they're untouchable and making a "calculated decision."

I mean, just look at what teams have available to them.

If you don't think the NFL proper has former Police, DEA, CIA, FBI types that want to work a cushy job after serving their time... I gotta chalk this one up to pure idiocy and being covered up, IF they didn't see it.

Regardless of whether or not I think they saw it I can't say anything for certain because anything is just hearsay about them seeing it or not - but knowing these things and knowing the pure ignorance that the NFL thinks it's untouchable... There is no way in hell they didn't see it, unless they just didn't want to.

[SteelersFreak]

Re: NFL Off Topic

It doesn't matter too much because the Ravens play the Steelers on national tv on Thursday night. I'm actually glad this isn't going to ruin tonight's games, they don't deserve that. But starting tomorrow leading up to Thursday night, it'll be all over the place.

Who gives a **** about some football games? How do games "deserve" anything?

[Seahawk76]

Re: NFL Off Topic

The NFL's biggest shill, Peter King, reported that they saw the video before they gave the initial punishment. He's backtracking today but that's actually in print. That's really all I need to believe that they saw the video beforehand and foolishly didn't think it'd ever get out.

Chris Mortensen also reported in July that the league had seen the video from inside the elevator and even accurately described what was on it. Any claims by the NFL that they hadn't seen it before is utter BS.

This thing is blowing up and the league is in full cover up mode right now.

[NDAlum]

Re: NFL Off Topic

Let's tone it down a bit, thanks.

[Sinner]

Re: NFL Off Topic

The next thing Goodell should do is say because of recent evidence Ray Rice has been permanently banned from the NFL. If they did see it and thought they could cover it up well they were wrong, throw his *** under the bus to do the right thing now.

If they saw it (which I believe they did) of course it was so stupid to only give him 2 games....dudes like that really irritate the hell out of me. After getting hit by him, hitting her head on the rail in the elevator then hitting the floor...he's lucky he didn't kill her. He needs his *** whooped plain and simple.

[aholbert32]

Re: NFL Off Topic

I don't think anyone stuck up for Rice (even if they are twisted enough to think what he did was okay). I commented a lot on being annoyed about how this was being treated. I'll say more on that later since I know I'll get blasted for it.



The state can press charges. I think it's usually difficult in this situation bc it becomes he said, she said and she ain't saying... but with video evidence they shouldn't need her testimony, which is what bothers me about all of this.



Definitely isn't "what I expected" because everything I heard was that she was either an aggressor or equally active participant. This video shows that's far from the case. Hell, she doesn't even look drunk.

But I kind of hear what you're saying (to a degree). He admitted to hitting her and most of the people initially outraged described it as happening exactly as it looks like it did, so in that sense, it isn't anything new. There is also no way the police and Goodell didn't see this video so there isn't any new "evidence", just new reason for some to get pissed off all over again, and some to see that it was worse than we were lead to believe.



I'm right there with you LBz, but I still stand short of these punishments everyone wants to hand down. I don't want to live in a society where you cut off a hand when someone steals. Probably a bad analogy but my point is people always scream for the most severe punishments for everything and it just doesn't work that way.

Should Rice have gotten a longer suspension? It depends on how you look at it. For me it always starts with the law. I'm pissed that he got a slap on the wrist there (and I've brought this up many times but now seeing the video, how the hell did they let them go home together?). I don't think it should be the responsibility of the employer to correct perceived mistakes in the law.

But that leads to the "protecting the shield" side of things. Well Rice is FAR from the first player to be involved in domestic violence. As I mentioned earlier, the Ravens most popular active player, Suggs, has done worse (imo) but it didn't hit the wide public eye that this did. The NFL should've had their NEW policy years ago. So taking emotion out of it, the punishment was on par with what the NFL has done for years, right or wrong. If we know that, a video shouldn't make it different.

At the end of the day, that was horrible. And this isn't the place for it (it's the NFL forum so we should be talking about the league actions) but I still wish more was being made out of the law enforcement's actions. LBz, you seem to think that the NJ law enforcement swept things under the rug bc it's Rice. I actually HOPE that's the case and they are investigated for it. Unfortunately, I don't think so. I think far too many situations like this are treated like this. Maybe one good thing (besides the NFL's new policy) will be they take a look at the punishment for these situations more seriously everywhere. But I fear that won't happen since the NFL is really the only ones catching heat.

End of rant, hope it makes sense. I'm sure flames are coming anyway so flame away.

Not really. As a scumbag lawyer, I can think of several defenses that could be use to at least bring a reasonable amount of doubt.

"The video is grainy and unclear so we dont know if the punches landed or if Mrs. Rice, while she approached my client aggressively, slipped and that caused her to hit her head on the railing without her testimony"

"The video only shows the incident in the elevator and does not show Mrs. Rice striking my client several times prior to the elevator. Knowing what took place, Mrs. Rice did not want to press charges because of what took place earlier. Its the state and their eagerness to prosecute and attempt to embarrass an upstanding black NFL star that is causing them to pursue this case without any testimony and relying solely on a grainy video."

Those are just two off the top of my head. I'd maybe argue that she was equally the aggressor as she walked toward Rice after the initial altercation in the elevator. He stood over her, she pushed him, he hit her, she walk toward him and swung, he hit her again, she hit the railing.

To be clear.....I DONT BELIEVE ANY OF THESE DEFENSES. I'm just using what I think a defense attorney would argue in this case.

DA's dont like to pursue cases that arent slam dunks because it costs the state money to try the cases and no one wants to end up with a loss when Rice is willing to plea out.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: NFL Off Topic

Reminds me of The Wire. Gotta protect that clearance rate.

[p_rushing]

Re: NFL Off Topic

To be clear.....I DONT BELIEVE ANY OF THESE DEFENSES.[/B] I'm just using what I think a defense attorney would argue in this case.

DA's dont like to pursue cases that arent slam dunks because it costs the state money to try the cases and no one wants to end up with a loss when Rice is willing to plea out.

Yeah I can't believe they wouldn't pursue the case with that video though. Specially to put him into the first offender whatever they call it program. I guess maybe the penalties are so lax anyways that he may not have gotten much jail time at all even if guilty.


Goodell, what will you screw up next?

[wwharton]

Re: NFL Off Topic

Who gives a **** about some football games? How do games "deserve" anything?

Like NDAlum was alluding too, why are you getting heated about THAT post? I could see a stronger response to my post before that. Maybe you didn't want to post your original feelings about that one? If so, please send me a PM. You can lay it on me.

As for the post you replied to, why should the fans of the Giants, Lions, Cards and Bolts be punished bc of this crap? Hell why should football fans? As a Steelers fan, I'm sorry that you all will be a part of the madness around it.

Not really. As a scumbag lawyer, I can think of several defenses that could be use to at least bring a reasonable amount of doubt.

"The video is grainy and unclear so we dont know if the punches landed or if Mrs. Rice, while she approached my client aggressively, slipped and that caused her to hit her head on the railing without her testimony"

"The video only shows the incident in the elevator and does not show Mrs. Rice striking my client several times prior to the elevator. Knowing what took place, Mrs. Rice did not want to press charges because of what took place earlier. Its the state and their eagerness to prosecute and attempt to embarrass an upstanding black NFL star that is causing them to pursue this case without any testimony and relying solely on a grainy video."

Those are just two off the top of my head. I'd maybe argue that she was equally the aggressor as she walked toward Rice after the initial altercation in the elevator. He stood over her, she pushed him, he hit her, she walk toward him and swung, he hit her again, she hit the railing.

To be clear.....I DONT BELIEVE ANY OF THESE DEFENSES. I'm just using what I think a defense attorney would argue in this case.

DA's dont like to pursue cases that arent slam dunks because it costs the state money to try the cases and no one wants to end up with a loss when Rice is willing to plea out.

That's a good point, but damn, where is the line drawn? I know from some personal experience that family members can charge on the woman's behalf in some cases.

[slickdtc]

NFL Off Topic

This whole thing reeks on so many levels.

I was one of the minority who thought the NFL gave the correct ruling based on the real law's ruling.

Now that it comes out how vicious this truly was, how did the law come to their conclusion? If the NFL saw this, how did they come to their conclusion? Are these organizations that naive or ignorant to believe this wouldn't come out? Even if they didn't, how can they live with themselves?

I think Rice severely manipulated Goodell in their meeting, and the team helped cover for him with that bizarre press conference. Plus, Rice had a good reputation in the past.

The release of this new video would lead us to demanding a harsher punishment by SOMEONE. But I'm stuck on the fact that we ourselves were naive in thinking somehow Rice didn't just cross the line. It takes two to tango, right!?

My, how dead wrong that was. I'm embarrassed, honestly. I didn't voice my opinion much here, but it was in my head.

Rice & the Ravens played us. Period. Calculated moves.

Someone has to do something. Suspend Rice, fine the Ravens, hell the NFL should fine themselves. As for the law... well, just another black mark.

Most importantly, Rice's now-wife needs help/protection. Stuff happens in relationships, I understand that. Knocking out your significant other is unacceptable in virtually every situation besides her pointing a gun/knife at you.

This thing is ugly on so many levels. Just disgusting.

[gopher_guy]

Re: NFL Off Topic

Deadspin
Ravens Player: Ray Rice Lied To Teammates, Has Lost Our Support

[aholbert32]

Re: NFL Off Topic

That's a good point, but damn, where is the line drawn? I know from some personal experience that family members can charge on the woman's behalf in some cases.

If I'm an Atlantic City DA, I'm dealing with murders so this is low on my scale. I'm not concerned about a domestic violence case where the victim doesnt want to testify, I may not win on the evidence alone AND is high profile.

[mestevo]

Re: NFL Off Topic

La Canfora posted a couple lines of the CBA on twitter, Ravens can't punish him, NFL can't pursue it further either.

Or at least that would be what the NFLPA would use to defend him if dared to.

Not sure deactivation qualifies as punishment, not sure what problems it causes for the Ravens cap-wise either if they release him, or relief they can get taking an action like that as a result of league punishment.

[wwharton]

Re: NFL Off Topic

Yeah I can't believe they wouldn't pursue the case with that video though. Specially to put him into the first offender whatever they call it program. I guess maybe the penalties are so lax anyways that he may not have gotten much jail time at all even if guilty.


Goodell, what will you screw up next?

That's the problem. Legal penalties are a joke.

[aholbert32]

Re: NFL Off Topic

That's the problem. Legal penalties are a joke.

Question: What would be a justifiable legal penalty? Here are the facts:

- Its a brutal assault from the video.
- The victim has forgiven him and doesnt want him punished.
- First time offense.

Jail time? Probation?