Ray Rice wins appeal

[ScreamingMeemie]

Source: ESPN

Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has won his appeal of an indefinite suspension and has been reinstated to the NFL.

Rice is now eligible to sign with any NFL team.

Running back Ray Rice is eligible to sign with any NFL team after winning an appeal of his indefinite suspension.
An NFL spokesman, when asked by ESPN's Andrew Brand if the league would pursue any further action against Rice, said: "We, of course, accept the ruling as binding."

Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after a video of him hitting his then-fiancée was released publicly. Goodell originally had suspended the running back for two games.

Read more: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11949855/ray-rice-baltimore-ravens-wins-appeal-eligible-reinstatement

[samsingh]

1. i don't think he should lose his career.

[avaistheone1]

19. I do.

[Aquavit]

45. so do I.

[joeglow3]

48. Why?

Is it because you don't see football as a viable profession? Would you say the Sam thing if he was a janitor? Walmart clerk?

[lobodons]

2. Oh Great

Sure, now he gets reinstated after I put him on the waiver wire.

[Threedifferentones]

3. He SHOULD have been banned in the first place, but since he was not this is the correct ruling.

By union agreement players are protected from being punished twice for the same violation.

So, the league cannot suspend him for two games when they hope to hide the videos and then ban him once the videos are leaked. The Commissioner and some other top execs really should be fired over this...

[underpants]

27. Gooddell was basically caught lying

I agree with you on all counts

[Stuart G]

34. This is why he won, not because the suspension was wrong on the face of it...nt....

[6000eliot]

4. Is any team OBLIGED to sign him?

Not sure how this works, so this is a serious question.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Teams are not obliged to sign him.

[Brother Buzz]

7. The Ravens released him prior to his suspension

Nobody is obliged to sign him

[totodeinhere]

14. I'll bet you anything that he gets signed though.

Michael Vick had no problem getting signed.

[rocktivity]

20. Vick was re-signed AFTER he did his time.

Last edited Fri Nov 28, 2014, 10:21 PM - Edit history (1)

Barring a major injury to a playoff-contending team, hopefully no one will even think about Rice until next season.


rocktivity

[totodeinhere]

25. Trust me. They are already thinking about him. n/t

[GP6971]

28. Got that right. n/t

[LynneSin]

22. Don't compare him to Michael Vick

Michael Vick spent time behind bars and paid a fine and did a ton of community service for the crime he committed. Vick's career only restarted after he met with NFL officials to show how he was trying to turn his life around and how he was willing to work with the ASPCA to help reach out to kids about the dangers of Dog Fighting that the NFL was willing to let Vick back into the league. I'm not here saying anyone needs to be a Vick fan - just pointing out that he did his time.

If anything, there was a huge DISSERVICE done to Ray Rice by hiding that in the first place. If I am correct there was an investigation into the abuse months ago and during that time no one bothered to look for the video tape so the charges were reduced to a lessor crime. So when the video was released there wasn't anything else that could be done because he was already charged and served his time. But no one knew just how horrible the crime was. Rice really got way with something pretty horrible. Maybe if the video was shown at he court case, Ray would have served some time like Vick but could have had that path to recovery to get back into the NFL. But it just kinda seems all assbackywards with the cart coming way before the horse in this one. The NFL officials really screwed this one up - as much as I do not like Ray Rice or what he did to his wife, I think he does deserve a second chance. But how can you do that when you just suspend the guy the way that they even though he wasn't found guilty of any crime worthy of jail time?

It's just a bad all around and too many people to blame!

[totodeinhere]

24. The similarity is that they both got caught doing bad things which were dealt with by the criminal

justice system. And they were both punished by the NFL. Rice did not do any time but he was put on probation and like Vick he does have a criminal record although at some point it might be expunged. And like Vick he will return to the NFL. So while the cases are not identical they are similar.

[LynneSin]

30. Rice got a slap on the hands and returned to the NFL

had that video never showed up he would still be playing today. Vick did 21 months in jail.

I would hardly call them similar. When Rice does time behind bars for his crime we can talk.

[joeglow3]

49. Really? What did people think domestic abuse looked like?

[LynneSin]

52. I'm not questioning what Rice did was wrong

But the evidence was buried and Rice got away with murder and a slap on the hands by the NFL. You do know he was charged with a crime for that domestic abuse against his then fiance but it the charges were downgraded and I think he got community service. So when the tape came out there was nothing more that could be done since he had already done his time for that crime.

When the tape came out the NFL looked like idiots. And what's worse the 'Indefinite Suspension' only made it worse. The NFL should have had a plan where they could have worked with Ray Rice that if he met conditions he could return to the NFL. Had the NFL and the Ravens sat down with Rice and made some conditions for his suspension and return, I think it would not have been the egg in the face we had the other day where the courts said that the NFL had no rights to suspend him. Because in the end it goes back to the fact that Ray Rice did get charged and serve time for that elevator incident, it was just a lightweight charge since no one saw the tape until months later after the court case was well closed.

[joeglow3]

54. I think it is more of a commentary on our society

We knew he abused her, but it took a video before people realized the severity of what domestic abuse looks like.

[Brother Buzz]

5. All dressed up and nowhere to go

[mn9driver]

8. He can go to Minnesota.

They're still missing their star running back due to his indefinite suspension.

Of course, that will also be overruled on appeal. But not before the end of the season.

[Archae]

9. If he shows up in Green Bay...

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. No way no how would that happen.

[Curtis]

11. The Raiders

Since the Raiders have the bad boy of the NFL image, they could sign him because they really need a running back. However, it'd serve him right for all the teams to shun him, imho.

[C Moon]

12. That's what I was thinking. The Raiders need SOMETHING...anything!

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. The thing is, from a purely "sports" viewpoint, he's not the guy he was

before his hip injury. This is not a blue chip player, and I doubt he will garner much interest. Of course, like Boomer, I will probably be proven wrong.

[TheKentuckian]

44. We do not need another broken down running back.

[TeamPooka]

15. Now you will see that winning is the most important thing to NFL teams.

expect to hear quotes about how he's paid his price, etc like Michael Vick, after a team signs him.

[24601]

17. There is a more important reason that some team needs to sign Rice. If the NFL and team policies

produce a true zero-tolerance environment, and if the league has no mechanism to provide a financial safe-haven for family & significant others victimized by suspended players, then reporting probability decreases.

If the NFL position is that the league and individual teams have no responsibility to care for players' family - even suspended or fired players, then they have created a huge disincentive to reporting domestic violence.

If the league and/or teams will ensure a victim isn't financially assaulted - potentially losing even the roof over their (& their kids') heads, then their reporting objectives have a chance.

The NFL has the resources to ensure that no one ever has to choose between safety & well, safety.

[4139]

16. Everyone deserves a second chance...

...

[avaistheone1]

18. Bulls**t!!!!!

[rocktivity]

21. He can get his second chance next season.

Giving him the rest of this season off is the least that should be done -- especially compared to how they're punishing that pot smoker.


rocktivity

[LynneSin]

23. Here's my two cents

First, this whole thing was screwed up from the beginning. If the tape was shown at that grand jury investigation he would have served time. And if he had served time that would have given him a path eventually back into the NFL in a way similar to Michael Vick. Because yes, even as wrong and as criminal as what Ray Rice has done I do believe that if someone served his time and shows remorse he has a right to come back.

The indefinite suspension was wrong by the NFL. I knew that would come back to bite them in the ass. What they should have done was suspend him for the year with the condition that he get counselling and/or anger management along with meeting with a mentor of some form regularly with NFL to ensure that he (Ray Rice) was working to better himself. The 'mentor' could be someone like Tony Dungy, who had worked with Michael Vick to help with his return. After the end of the season, if Ray Rice showed that he had change he could return under the condition that he was willing to reach out to others such as community service, talks to kids and other things to help make a difference. If the NFL did something like that this story might have had a happy ending and maybe Ray Rice could do some good for society. Instead the NFL has egg on their face with that ruling.

I think in the end Rice will end up in the CFL. The Toronto Argonauts love the NFL rejects.

[davidpdx]

29. I tend to agree

The NFL didn't have a coherent plan in place to deal with spousal abuse cases. They got caught with their pants down when they gave Rice punishment under the old plan and then the public uproar happened and the public uproar over it being too light.

The mentorship did seem to help Vick straighten his life out, but seems to be struggling now with the Jets. Doing the same for Rice would be a good idea.

[LynneSin]

31. Well his struggling with the Jets is just that it's the Jets

Everyone struggles with the Jets. Hell the Eagles picked up the Jet's old QB Mark Sanchez and he actually is starting to look like a decent player.

But you are right. Because of the lack of any coherent plan, the NFL kinda just went off the deep-end and now they have mud on their face.

There was an opportunity for a real win with this Ray Rice situation. Oh well.

[JonLP24]

39. He seems to do well when he isn't playing Buffalo

First time, the offense was more effective (after Geno threw back-to-back-to-back interceptions near his own end zone) because he was able to run the ball well but last time out they held him to 4 rushing yards.

[joeglow3]

50. In fairness, I don't think the nfl thought it through

They were more interested in satisfying the mob.

[LynneSin]

53. The problem is no one thought it through since Ray Rice was charged for that incident

and served time for it. But since no one ever saw the tape back when the charges were being heard he got a much lighter sentence and the NFL treated it as something extremely minor.

So one the tape came out it was pretty much legally like a 'so what' because the crime was already charged and the sentence was served so legally there wasn't anything more you could do to Ray Rice. I think that's the whole 'Double Jeopardy' thing - you can't be charged for the same crime twice. So in a way, the afterthought of the NFL doing the indefinite suspension; although it made everything extremely happy including myself and millions of women in this country, it really was punishing him for a crime that he technically already did the time. He finished out his sentence both legally and for what the NFL had charged way back when it first happened. In a way the NFL pretty much did their own version of 'Double Jeopardy'. Because what he did to that woman he should have done serious time and been booted back in April but instead both legally and by NFL standards they all said 'It wasn't a big deal so the punishment isn't going to be a big deal either'. When we all found out 6 months later that it was really a big deal everyone was outraged and disgusted.

The NFL's failure is that they have no policy in regards to any kind of domestic violence and they need one that is set in stone. Had the NFL had a better policy they probably wouldn't be in this mess right now. Because in the end, I think the court was right in their decision to allow Ray Rice to play although I really hope that no team signs him because the man disgusts me. BUT... I do believe in second changes and I would like to think that the NFL might work out a deal that if Ray get counseling and can show that he is working on his anger and perhaps can reach out to young people about domestic violence, then he does deserve a second change. There is an opportunity here let's hope the NFL takes uses it.

[davidpdx]

26. Part of the problem with the whole Ray Rice episode is that the NFL didn't have the proper

policies to deal with offenses like this swiftly and in a stern way. The policy should have been a minimum of a suspension for the rest of the season and then the case would be reviewed after the season is over (but before the NFL draft). That way there would be plenty of time to go through the case without rushing to an outcome.

Because the rules were so laxs and the backlash was so great, the NFL was forced to change the rules. If they had implemented a stronger system to begin with I think Rice would remain suspended.

[AngryAmish]

35. That has to be collectively bargained.

You can't make up punishments on the fly. They have a union.

[Sancho]

37. You are exactly right...

I'm on my union's bargaining team. It's not the arbitrator's or union's fault if the NFL didn't enforce a policy or gave too light a punishment to start with...because IF they are allowed to come back and impose additional penalties, it sets a precedent and the contract is worthless.

Anytime they want they can bargain an article in the contract that says players are suspended automatically for domestic abuse - and the union will accept it as long as the players get due process (representation, fair hearings, etc.).

The NFL fouled this up.

The easiest thing for them to do is call all the owners and tell them not to hire Ray Rice. If the owners cooperate, it's a done deal.

[AngryAmish]

38. If anyone makes that call they will violate antitrust laws

Treble damages. Plus various state based anti blacklist laws.

[Sancho]

43. Probably...and it would be the first time ever that pro sports owners violated antitrust laws....

I wouldn't think that the NFL would not broadcast an official call on ESPN...but they might just as easily blacklist someone behind the oak doors. Hopefully there's no Romney recorder in the room.

I've seen LOTS of union members win actions or lawsuits and amazingly have trouble finding employment. How many antitrust suits like this have been winners lately?

Realistically, the NFL screwed it up, and now they can't put the toothpaste back in the tube. Their best bet is to quietly make it difficult for Rice to get a job, or a good job, or he might get a lowball offer. They can try to let him play and rehab him to the public and see where it goes, but that may or may not fly with the fans.

Proving retaliation or a blacklist would be pretty difficult - and even then the NFL could wait three years until it got to court and make a settlement offer to play for peanuts. I'm not sure about the NFL, but the vast majority of our employment suits are settled.

[joeglow3]

51. Sad how quickly people will piss on hard fought worker protections

Just because they don't like one person involved.

[davidpdx]

47. I understand that

So new rules couldn't even be proposed until the current contract us up and collective bargaining was done again. Of course there is no guarantee the players and the union would agree it either.

I have seen some suggestions in this thread on how situations with domestic violence could be addressed. We'll see if they come up with an actual solution of continue to act as though there is no problem.

[Derek V]

32. Three syllables

The first two being "cluster"

[maindawg]

33. the dirty little secret is

Goodell plays favorites. Hes buddies with Ravens owner, good buddies. He was brought into the job he holds courtesy of Dan Rooney who owns the Steelers. So every time a Raven or a Steeler screw up, Goodell finds a way to soft sell it and they get zero or very little penalty. But when a Brown or Bengal go astray he makes an example of them. Same with the rest of the league. Thats what happened here. And Roger got caught lying. Now , he will have to double down on the lies and lie some more too. He is finished. There are too many billionaire owners who dont like this.

[underpants]

36. Dan Snyder of the Washington team too

Great article here on Frank Luntz's role

http://deadspin.com/the-political-messaging-huckster-behind-roger-goodells-1637322802

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. Ray Rice isn't a Raven anymore.

[geek tragedy]

40. His career is over anyways--he has lost at least one step

and isn't worth the baggage.

This development is reflective of the NFL's lack of process not Rice's behavior.

[Aquavit]

46. This ruling will pave the way for the Child Abuser's return

and is a huge part of the reason I haven't watched the NFL for years.