Ray Rice is coming off a mediocre season, in which he was overweight, and now finding himself in legal trouble. In light of the circumstances, the Ravens should part ways with Rice.“He’ll be back with the team. He’ll definitely be back,” said Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens. “I know how terribly disappointing it is to Ray and his fiancée, how embarrassing it is for them. I have to have compassion towards him.”
Courtesy: NY Post
These are Bisciotti’s words following Rice’s initial arrest, which resulted in a simple assault charge. His fiancé, Janay Palmer, also received a simple assault charge. Although Rice was originally charged with a misdeamnor, he has now been indicted on an aggravated assault charge. The charges against Palmer were dismissed, possibly indicating that Rice was primarily at fault. It has been reported that the couple is undergoing therapy. If convicted, Ray Rice will face a 3-5 year prison sentence. Bisciotti’s words will be tested, and one must wonder if he will hold true to his word.
History shows that Bisciotti and the Ravens organization will continue to stand behind Rice in the wake of this news. In 2000, linebacker Ray Lewis was indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges. The Ravens supported Lewis through his legal problems, and he was acquitted of the murder charge. A few years later, running back Jamal Lewis was arrested for conspiring to sell cocaine. The Ravens stood by Lewis as he went through the legal process. But there’s a key difference between these two incidents and Rice’s.
Jamal Lewis committed a serious crime, but conspiring to sell drugs is not a violent crime. One could make the argument that conspiring to sell drugs is not nearly as serious as a violent crime. Punching someone in an elevator and knocking them out, however, is a violent crime. Ray Lewis was charged with murder, but there was insufficient evidence to incriminate him. He was instead charged with obstruction of justice.
In Rice’s case, there is more than enough evidence to convict him. A video, which shows the aftermath of the incident, has been released to the public. This video does not show the assault, but it does show Rice dragging his fiance out of an elevator.
Allegedly, the assault took place inside the elevator, and the police have claimed they have it on tape. The fact that Rice’s charge was elevated from simple assault to an aggravated assault indicates that there is sufficient evidence to show that Rice is largely at fault.
Rice committed a violent crime, and there’s apparently evidence to prove that it was aggravated assault. That’s what separates this case from Ray’s and Jamal’s. The Ravens are likely to stand with Rice until the verdict comes. They won’t make a decision until the trial is completed, as Rice does deserve due process. It won’t be a surprise to see Rice convicted though, and a release should come shortly after a conviction.
The NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement states that if a player is unable to perform due to incarceration, the team is not required to pay the player’s full salary. Rice carries an $8.75 million cap hit, and Ozzie Newsome will want his money back in the case that Rice is unable to carry out his duties to the team.
In an off season where the Ravens have seen an unusual number of arrests, the Ravens should make an example of someone, and who better than the star running back? After a disappointing season and off field trouble, the locker room could be unstable. Cutting Rice will send a message and straighten out the rest of the players.
Playing in the NFL is a privilege, but playing in the NFL comes with privileges. Too many players abuse that. Too many players get pardoned for their actions because of their on-field heroics. It’s time someone was made to be an example.
