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With the release of the video clip of Ray Rice knocking out his fiance, there is an up-swell of pressure for Rodger Goodell to change the punishment for the Baltimore running back. We all watched the video from the perspective outside of the elevator. We all knew that Rice hit his fiance, causing her to be knocked out, but for some reason, it's never as bad when you don't actually see the action.
Now we've see it, and it's worse than we all imagined it.
With one punch in an elevator, Ray Rice changed his image from a tough NFL running back, to a coward who knocked a woman out in an elevator. Everyone that supports this idiot should share in the shame of standing behind a thug. I don't understand the mindset of a fan base who would applaud the guy as he entered his first pre-season game.
When Ravens running Ray Rice exited the tunnel and was introduced to the home crowd, he drew a standing ovation.
There were no audible boos, if any existed, for the three-time Pro Bowl runner following a rocky offseason where he was arrested for felony aggravated assault that led to a two-game NFL suspension for violating the NFL personal-conduct policy.
"Our fans are the best fans in the world," Rice said. "I can't thank them enough, No. 1, for sticking by me and supporting me throughout my trials and tribulations. I owe my best to these fans for giving me that kind of ovation. I'm looking forward to giving them the best effort that I can every week throughout the season. ..
Rice brutally hitting a woman is indefensible. Being one of the morons who cheer because you blindly support a guy who can score some touchdowns for your team is shameful. It doesn't stop there though. The support for Rice continues throughout the organization.
Janay Rice says she deeply regrets the role that she played the night of the incident.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 23, 2014
The official Twitter account of the Baltimore Ravens promotes victim blaming. Are we supposed to feel better that the victim apologizes for being abused? I mean, should she have stayed conscious? Maybe learn how to take a punch? Even worse than publishing this tweet is that 570 complete d-bags favorited it. What could make you possibly want to click a little star for a tweet about domestic violence?
In case you have not figured it out, I think Ray Rice got off easy. This has nothing to do with being a Bengals fan. This has to do with being a human being and being a man. You just don't hit women.
So the NFL and Rodger Goodell are facing some heat today. The video is out; the world assumes he has seen it and that the slap on the wrist that Rice received is a complete joke. But wait, maybe this video is new to the NFL brass also.
NFL says Ray Rice video "was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today."
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) September 8, 2014
This was backed up by league spokesman Brian McCarthy:
"We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator. That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today."
So, the league is in a tough position right now. Do you re-open the case with the new evidence? Does Goodell get a do-over on the self admitted mistake he made in punishing Rice? This will be interesting to see as we watch how the NFL handles the situation. In my opinion, Rice should be made an example of. He should be the poster child for what to expect if you commit domestic violence as an NFL player.
There are no more questions or gray areas about what could have happened in this situation. The whole event is caught on tape. The punishment should match the crime.