I'm disgusted.
I'm angry.
I feel like I, along with most other Ravens fans (and NFL fans in general), have been personally betrayed. To some degree that's a silly idea, but Ray Rice was a guy who I had a lot of admiration for. He was my favorite player on the Ravens for years, and not just because of his skills as a football player. He was an extremely active member of the Baltimore community from the moment he took the field in his rookie season, particularly when it came to his anti-bully campaign that he posted constantly about on his Facebook page.
He was also a great teammate, one who took on a leadership role during the final seasons of Ray Lewis's career. He quickly became one of the most outspoken members on the Ravens, one who loved playing for the team just as much as the organization and the fans loved him right back.
That's why Ray Rice's firing from the Ravens and subsequent indefinite suspension by the NFL stings so much.
I haven't watched the elevator video that was released earlier this week by TMZ; in fact, I haven't even seen the first video that was released in February of Rice dragging the unconscious body of Janay Palmer through the casino floor. I knew I'd throw up if I watched either video. I have to tilt my head down or look elsewhere if I'm at the gym and the video comes up on ESPN on one of the gym TVs.
Last night Steve Bisciotti sent out an email to all Ravens season ticket holders and various stakeholders. It quickly found its way publicly, as it should have. In my opinion, while the Ravens' front office led by Bisciotti mucked things up pretty well over the last six months or so, the email did a fairly decent job outlining their thinking and ultimate actions. Bisciotti pulled no punches though; he openly admitted where the Ravens dropped the ball and how they could have acted differently.
Some may argue the Ravens' dismissal of Rice and Bisciotti's email would be too little and too late, and they would have a pretty compelling argument. Keith Olbermann sure would say that. Take a look:
Kind of hard to argue against Olbermann's thoughts, and this comes from someone who regularly disagrees with his philosophies.
Here's the real problem though: this entire outrage is completely in response to the shocking video in question. Domestic violence is a far, far bigger issue than Ray Rice, one that has existed in the NFL for years. We've all turned a blind eye to it, and I'm just as guilty of doing so as everyone else. Until Ray Rice's story broke, NFL players who had been charged with any kind of domestic violence charge were left largely to be footnotes in the news. The recently retired James Harrison was even suspended for one game for punching his then-girlfriend in the eye in 2008. Less than a year after that incident, he was a Super Bowl hero for the Steelers against the Cardinals.
Harrison is only one example though. Brandon Marshall held a knife - a knife - to his then-girlfriend (and now wife) in 2008. He was later diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, and had to seek counseling to deal with his issues. Now he's regarded as a great teammate and leader for the Bears. His history, which is quite a laundry list of domestic violence claims and charges, is extensive to say the least. Because he has since straightened himself out, no one talks about his background.
Yes, I'm also perfectly aware of Terrell Suggs's incident with his then-fiance involving a bucket of bleach as well. He's another one who was a footnote when his incident had happened, but has since been a leader for the Ravens. I don't know what the answer is when dealing with players who had previously had cases of domestic violence.
Ray Rice had to know the elevator video would surface eventually, as did the Ravens and the league office. While I believe the Ravens' front office team members and the league office didn't see the video prior to Monday (I'll explain why in a moment), I don't believe either party took the necessary steps to properly obtain the video, which Bisciotti discussed in his email.
This kind of gross incompetence is unacceptable. Somebody will be the fall guy for the league office, especially when considering Commissioner Roger Goodell's lack of explanation over what he knew, when he knew it, and what actions he took in response to whatever he knew. Groups such as the National Organization for Women are now calling for Goodell to resign in light of everything that has happened and been made public. Goodell has said he won't resign as a result of the fallout from all this, but that doesn't mean somebody won't be fired or forced to step down.
Goodell has said the league office had contacted law officials for all evidence in Ray Rice's case, to which the police department declined due to the video being the primary evidence in the incident in question. If Goodell lied or hid the truth about somehow obtaining the incriminating video and the ACPD could somehow prove it, that would be the start of a defamation lawsuit waiting to happen. If you thought the fallout from this entire scandal was already bad, consider the fallout from that scenario. Goodell would almost certainly have to step down as commissioner, and the NFL would be eager to settle the lawsuit out of court. The impact to its brand at that point would be beyond comprehension.
The Ravens have already put together plans to distance themselves with Rice, starting with offering fans who have his jersey to bring them in to exchange for another player's jersey of their choice. Bisciotti's email also referenced the Ravens partnering with the House of Ruth, a nonprofit organization designed to help women who have been victims of domestic violence. Small steps to be sure, but they're making an effort to make amends for their foul ups.
I haven't even gotten to the real victim here, and that's Janay Rice. She's made the choice - for better or worse - to stay with her husband. I want to believe that this was the first and only time Ray has ever hit her, but there are too many inconsistencies in the entire story that have left me wondering where the lies stop and the truth starts. His anti-bully campaign looks like a farce, one that many people would rightly question its validity and whether it was a front to cover up other domestic violence.
Oh, by the way, the Ravens have to play tomorrow night against their arch rival Steelers. When was the last time any football game was such an afterthought, especially when it's game featuring one of the best rivalries in the league?
No comments:
Post a Comment