Roger Goodell

[Feathers and Fins]

Its a Dog and Pony show now. 2 NFL Owners and the EX FBI Boss will " investigate this " The NFL always covers its interest and that interest is in what makes them money. The Fans want RG GONE they have no confidence in him what-so-ever and that causes the NFL money.

I do not have much confidence in the NFL at all its just a business no different than other business its all about the bottom dollar IMO.

[ozark trout fisher]

I do not have much confidence in the NFL at all its just a business no different than other business its all about the bottom dollar IMO.

Yup.

[SpoonDog]

Now on to my personal feelings; ( After seeing the second video, to me it appeared she charged him and was the aggressor and he hit her in self defense. ) I know everyone says a man should never hit a woman, but I have seen women become more physical than a man and in domestic altercations, to me if anyone is attacking you, their sex is no longer an issue and if self defense is warranted so be it. I spoke to my cousin on this as well who is now a retired police officer and he said the worse domestics and most dangerous were always the woman when she was the aggressor as well.

This turd was a football player, being roughed up is part of his job, and if he felt so intimidated or threatened by his wife, perhaps it's a good thing he's looking for a new career. If that were the case, I frankly don't understand how he'd be able to perform in the NFL as well as he did. Ray Rice wasn't the one laying on the floor, and insinuating maybe she deserved it, to me, smacks of blaming the victim.

He could've got off the elevator. He could've bought a separate room. He could've called security. There are a million things Ray Rice could've done that didn't involve assaulting someone. And you're right that whether it's a man or a woman is irrelevant- assault is assault. I have to wonder...if it was another NFL player he had done this to, whether the initial punishment would've been more severe.

[Feathers and Fins]

This turd was a football player, being roughed up is part of his job, and if he felt so intimidated or threatened by his wife, perhaps it's a good thing he's looking for a new career. If that were the case, I frankly don't understand how he'd be able to perform in the NFL as well as he did. Ray Rice wasn't the one laying on the floor, and insinuating maybe she deserved it, to me, smacks of blaming the victim.

She could've got off the elevator. She could've bought a separate room. She could've called security. There are a million things She could've done that didn't involve assaulting someone. And you're right that whether it's a man or a woman is irrelevant- assault is assault. I have to wonder...if it was another NFL player he had done this to, whether the initial punishment would've been more severe.

See what I did there added one letter.

Yes he is a football player but this was not at a game so no roughing should be happening.

I haven't been laid out on the floor but I can promise you the other guy deserved it.

Was the other guy the victim because he was laid out? or was there more to the story like ( he thought bullying a person was funny )

As I said i'm playing devils advocate. But I have seen the video and the police reports, to me she was the aggressor he was backing up when she came at him and he then hit her that say self defense. So if it is irrelevant because of assault then what is all the BS about other than the old ( shivery code) of don't hit a woman?

[Lancer09]

See what I did there added one letter.

Yes he is a football player but this was not at a game so no roughing should be happening.

I haven't been laid out on the floor but I can promise you the other guy deserved it.

Was the other guy the victim because he was laid out? or was there more to the story like ( he thought bullying a person was funny )

As I said i'm playing devils advocate. But I have seen the video and the police reports, to me she was the aggressor he was backing up when she came at him and he then hit her that say self defense. So if it is irrelevant because of assault then what is all the BS about other than the old ( shivery code) of don't hit a woman?

I don't care what she was doing. He was an NFL player, she was not. He didn't need to be afraid of anything unless she had a weapon on her.. and she didn't.

You don't hit women, it's really that simple. Have you watched the videos, seen his nonchalance towards beating the hell out of his wife?

Now it's coming out that he may have spit on her?

Get out of here, if that all doesn't deserve the indefinite suspension, I don't know what does.

[Feathers and Fins]

Yes I saw them I said it a few times now, I also said in viewing them he was backing up in the video TMZ released and she came at him, That makes her the aggressor!

I also read the police report and posted them to this thread the one that charged both of them with assault, Why was charges then dropped against her ( Because she is a woman and a man shouldn't hit a woman? )

Assault is Assault period. From the initial police report both of them should have been charged and were, then the DA drops them against her and goes after felony on him, Did that happen because he was a celebrity and they wanted to make an example of him?

As to spitting on her until that's proven its a rumor.

Indefinite suspension was not the league policy at the time and still isn't as they said first offense is 2 games.

There was no trial and wont be unless he violates the terms of his deal so we may never know what really happened other than what's in the police reports and what RR has stated.

Again in case you didn't see it as you seem to be getting a little hot ( I'm playing devils advocate here ).

[Justin Spencer]

I think the incident should be handled by the courts with the employer being allowed to take whatever action they feel they need to. I would bet had he punched me in that elevator he wouldn't get the same treatment as he is getting now (and I doubt I am as tough as his wife). Violence is violence and self defense is self defense, I don't condone violence against women, but I've seen plenty that might benefit from an butt whoopin, they push the envelope a lot further because they are women and know that they won't be touched. Not saying that was the case here, but I say let the justice system take care of the legal stuff, and give the employer the final say in how he wants to discipline his employee. The Ravens (employer) made their decision, the NFL is just trying to save face and understandably they are in a tough position.

[Al Agnew]

Okay...you're on an elevator, between floors, no way to walk away. A woman comes at you, trying to hit you. What do you do? Keep in mind that Rice isn't a real big guy, but he's most definitely a strong guy in great shape. In my opinion, this gets into a gray area. I was raised to never hit a woman, but I can see circumstances where I'd feel I had no choice.

On the other hand, given the assumed relative strength of the two, I think hitting her probably wasn't necessary. He could have probably subdued her without punching her, but on the other other hand, a person, woman or man, with long fingernails and the ability to bite, kick, hit, and scratch could be like trying to subdue a wildcat. You can do it but you'll have a lot of scars afterwards.

So if she was the first aggressor, like I said, we're getting into a gray area as to how much punishment he deserves.

Only sure thing here is that Goodell didn't handle the issue well at all.

[SpoonDog]

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I watch the full video and I see a woman pushing away a man in the hallway. I see a woman pushing a man away in an elevator. I see a woman whose body language indicates she wants to be left alone. I can't tell if he gives her a shove or a jab, I can't tell if she does it to him - it happens awfully fast. I look at that video and I don't see a woman who's just snapping out of the blue - I see a woman standing up for herself and being beaten for it.

Assault is assault, I can get behind that. If you're dealing with a wildcat you don't keep rattling the cage. Punching a lady in the head once you finally get her to lash out is not self defense. Ray Rice walked out of that elevator with nary a scratch. His wife had to be dragged out like a corpse. Assault is assault - which is why I'm amazed some are defending the only person in this scenario who actually seems to have assaulted anyone.

Even Ray Rice says he was out of line. And if it winds up Gooddell was sitting on this information, at least he's only implicitly condoning violence against women. It could be a backlash from fans does more damage than the initial scandal. From a purely business standpoint I think the NFL has painted themself into a corner - they can take this and other issues seriously and potentially alienate current fans, or they can continue with the tone-deaf bandaid solutions and alienate potential new markets.

[Feathers and Fins]

Spoon I don't think anyone is defending Ray, he admitted what he did long ago, I think they are lashing out at the NFL for its action or lack there of and it just appears that it is support of him. I keep hearing "double jeopardy" brought up in the conversations and the fact is though the courts at this point cannot touch him due to his plea agreement the NFL is not the courts and not under any constitutional restrictions.

But he does have a case as he was given a penalty by the NFL then they went back on it and terminated him basically and as more comes out they did so under very suspicious circumstances and that is why people are getting mad imo.