Ray Rice

Ray Rice-Getting Right but.. 

 

 

Its good that the NFL & the Baltimore Ravens finally got it right with the Ray Rice situation. This is what they each should have done much earlier. I guess justice delayed is better than justice denied. That being said it's a shame it took an entity like TMZ to get the correct outcome.

 Like most people I find it hard to believe that an entity like the NFL with its FBI connections and an organization like the Baltimore Ravens which is owned by someone whose one of Forbes Top 500 Richest People hadn't seen the this video before TMZ released it. As they say in the South "That dog don't hunt." What's more troubling is way the Ravens were so quick to defend to Ray Rice. Teams in the NFL are constantly releasing players for lesser reasons and here was an opportunity for the Ravens to show that they cared and they blew it. You would think that for the sake of avoiding the public relations nightmare they would have released or suspended  Ray Rice. The team didn't need NFL's permission to do that. I remember years ago when the Denver Broncos suspended a really good Tight End named Clarence Kay for 4 games because he admitted he had used cocaine. The league was never consulted. and the punishment stood. The team acted in the best interest of the team and the player. Furthermore its not like Ray Rice last season was any good, he rushed for less than a 1,000 yards (660) for the first time in 4 years. He had just signed a big contract the year before and that was how he rewarded the team for giving him the big contract. He also plays a devalued position-running back. The last two years no running back has been drafted in the 1st round. Teams can find someone who can be productive at the position in any round. Alfred Morris has rushed for a thousand yards the last 2 seasons and he was 6th round pick.    

It also troubling that the NFL which has been pushing the agenda that player's personal conduct is important handed out such slight initial punishment 2 games. When a player can be suspended 4 games for getting caught smoking marijuana or can be suspended for the same amount of games for being accused but not convicted or pleading guilty to rape/sexual battery (Ben Roethlisberger), 2 games is a joke. You would think the NFL would have erred on the side of caution and suspended Ray Rice at least half a season (8 games) to a full season so they too could have avoided the public relations nightmare. What will probably happen from here is that Ray Rice will not play this season. Don't be surprised if he plays for some team next year. The NFL is a production oriented league and Rice has been productive. As outrageous as that seems remember Michael Vick do something equally if not more reprehensible and he's still in the NFL. What might work against Ray Rice is that devolved nature of his position. If he is picked up  the team that does will probably use the following spin-"America is a land of second chances and doesn't Ray Rice deserve one. He's paid a big price for his bad decision." The team will then announce that his contract is incentive laden and for one year. If he's productive than will be signed to longer term deal. This where being a running back continues to work against him, productive running backs start being less productive at the age of 30 which is about what age Ray Rice will be if that scenario happens.

It  says a lot about the justice system in America that the NFL & teams' punishment is more severe than the one given to him (Ray Rice) than the courts. I know that there are calls for heads to roll in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens, and the law enforcement that handled the case in New Jersey, but more than likely probably no one in those places will probably lose their jobs. It would be nice if they did. Hopefully this sends the message to athletes at least in America that are a lot more like us normal folks in that there are consequences for your actions. Shame it can't be that way for other people with money who aren't athletes.