The
NFL’s New Problem
I was completing my homework
Sunday night when I decided to take a small break. I started surfing the Internet and going to
my favorite news sites (ESPN and CNN).
On ESPN, the story that caught my attention was one that included something
about a new video involving Ray Rice.
For anyone who doesn’t know, this guy has been at the center of the
NFL’s new domestic violence crisis. A
quick synopsis is that he literally knocked out his girlfriend, in an Atlantic
City elevator no less, and then proceeded to drag her unconscious body out of
the elevator seconds later. Video
surveillance shows him dragging her body out of the elevator, but before
Sunday, no video had shown what happened inside. Despite this act being clearly criminal and
immoral, the NFL only suspended him two games.
To put this in perspective, players are automatically suspended four
games as a result of using substances banned by the league, like marijuana,
steroids, and other illegal or performance enhancing drugs. This caused outrage among many fans and
spectators of the league. The punishment
hardly seemed to fit the crime. The NFL
claimed they made an investigation into the matter after he was arrested on
February 15. NFL commissioner Roger
Goodell later made domestic violence punishments much more severe, making it
six games for a first offense and a lifetime ban as a consequence for a second
offense. This seems more of a just
punishment.
The problem for the NFL comes with this new video being
released, which shows what happened inside the elevator between Rice and his
girlfriend. The video is violent, and is
difficult to watch. It visibly shows
Rice striking his girlfriend in the face and her falling unconscious to the
floor of the elevator. Keep in mind this
happened back in February. This was not
a recent occurrence, and the NFL claimed to make an investigation into this
matter. The decision to suspend rice
only two games was met with animosity, and thus the league increased future
punishments to try and mend their reputation.
But, the problem remains of why did the NFL not see this video, which
really is the most incriminating piece of evidence there is in this case. This brings into doubt, at least in my
opinion, the authenticity and credibility of the NFL’s investigation policy and
how seriously they really take matters that involve players and confrontations
with the law. The fact that a two game
suspension was given has already been established as a weak and incorrect
decision, but this draws into question whether they took the investigation was
done in the correct way. After this new
video was released, the NFL did suspend Rice indefinitely, and the Baltimore Ravens
(his team) have now released him, but the NFL needs to reestablish their
credibility in the eyes of their fans and their critics. This video really shows that not just the
NFL, but also the legal system, and the Baltimore Ravens, failed in this matter,
and failed miserably.
I agree with your views and I feel the NFL has completely dropped the ball when it comes to handling this situation of the domestic violence. The video and case came out back in February, but now the official video hits the media. i believe the NFL and Ray Rice are a mess. Rice most likely lied to the Ravens, thus why he was let go. And People are so upset with Rice for what he did, but we all new it was domestic violence and in February knew that something happened in the elevator for her to be knocked out and drug out of the elevator. Personally I feel Rice will eventually get what he deserves, but the sentence he first was given falls onto the hands of the NFL's commissioner. He totally messed this case up and this will be discussed years and years later.
ReplyDeleteIan,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you and Melvin. Domestic violence should not be just a slap on the wrist as it seems by the initial two game suspension. Rice is already making millions of dollars with his contract he probably could not care less about a two game suspension. I think the public needs to step up more and quit making athletes look like demi-gods who are above the law (other celebrities too for that matter). They put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else, and it definitely does not help when the NFL commissioner plays into it.
Anyway, I agree with Melvin this will be discussed years afterwards and hopefully it will help be a cause for change.