The Baltimore Ravens had the opportunity to do the right thing, even before the NFL got involved. Instead, they let someone hand out the punishment all the while playing the good guy and welcoming back their player with open arms.
They held press conferences, fans gave him standing ovations, and players even defended him. All the while knowing what he was guilty of.
Who among us hasn’t done something they haven’t regretted? Everyone deserves a second chance to rebuild their image, right? Michael Vick got that opportunity and he spent time in federal prison.
Ray Rice: How We All Got It Wrong
But if that is what you are going to do, don’t waver from it. Stand by your employee and your star player. Don’t make a big deal about welcoming him back with open arms and then change your mind when something comes out that you knew happened, but denied seeing or knowing.
The Ravens, and even the NFL, did this to Rice. They slapped an insulting suspension to anyone who has dealt with domestic abuse, and then moved on from the incident – only to admit their mistake later on. But as soon as the league and the Ravens saw the bullet train that was the video, they turn a complete 180 on Rice and release him.
Why stand up for a player and take an amazing amount of backlash over the situation if you are not going to stand by him when he truly needs it? Did you really think the first video from the elevator would never be seen by the public?
Worst yet, and here is where the NFL is at just as much fault – are you really going to have us believe this was the first time you saw the video? NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy had this to say about the video,
Do you, as a league, take the rest of us as that much of a fool?
This black mark placed upon the team’s shield, as well as the league’s, won’t soon be forgotten. It doesn’t matter how many players are suspended and/or banned under the ‘Ray Rice’ rule, the dark cloud you let gather will forever hang over you.
And by suspending Rice indefinitely now, the message you are really sending to not only the players, not only the significant others of the players, but the fan base of the sport as well, is that it was the act caught on camera and not the act itself that is being punished.
What commissioner Roger Goodell is saying is if you do it, you’re going to get suspended, but if you do, just don’t do it with documental evidence. Then, and only then, will our hands be tied.
Shame on you NFL.
Shame on you Ravens.
Shame on anyone who believes that this is only bad right now because the actual crime is caught on camera.
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