While the phrase “innocent until proven guilty” is being used so loosely nowadays, sometimes judgments and punishments are handed down before the dust settles.
Courtesy: CBSSports.com
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has been suspended for the first two games of the 2014 NFL season after he was indicted on a third-degree assault charge back in March, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. According to CBSSports.com, he will lose $470,000 of his base salary and an additional $58,000 during the suspension and he will miss the Ravens’ first two home games against the Cincinatti Bengals in Week One and the Pittsburgh Steelers (Thursday Night Football) in Week Two.
Many were wondering what took the league so long to hand out a ruling given when the incident occurred — Feb. 15 he allegedly got into an altercation with his then-fiancee at Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. — and also given the way the NFL has reacted to off-the-field incidents in the past. With Baltimore’s first full training camp practice beginning today at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., the timing seemed fit for the ruling as the Ravens now have the mindset and can set a proper timetable to integrate Rice back into the fold as the top back.
But what about the suspension?
Too short?
Should he have been suspended?
Here’s the skinny on the incident: He and his then-fiancee were in a situation they shouldn’t have put themselves in. There is a police report that describes Rice’s involvement. There was an incriminating video of Rice that was leaked out to TMZ.
That is enough for the NFL to suspend a player under the league’s personal conduct policy. Any player can be suspended even if he is not charged or convicted of a crime. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell deals out punishments as he sees fit. It may seem as if he magnifies small situations into larger ones, but it he is trying to police the league as best as possible.
As far as Rice goes, despite meeting with Goodell June 16 to describe his side of the story, it wasn’t enough in order to detract away any negative attention or scrutiny he s facing in order to dodge a suspension. Goodell doesn’t care if said player is a star or a bench-warmer. He will suspend players if he feels they were out of line — just ask Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon.
Some felt a three-to-four game suspension was more acceptable for Rice, but the 27-year-old has a good history behind him and hopefully no further incidents in the near future will cloud that image he built up before Feb. 15.
Would he have dodged the suspension had the video not been leaked out to TMZ?
Not likely.
Keep in mind, there is a police report that describes the incident and the altercation took place in a casino. The security camera footage, although not completely clear, would have inevitably appeared in the case as evidence. High foot traffic places of business like a casino — not to mention the gambling that takes place — need the extra surveillance for obvious reasons.
What now for the Ravens?
Get ready or the Bernard Pierce, Justin Forsett and rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro shows — Taliaferro was arrested on misdemeanor charges of destruction of property and being drunk in public May 24. Pierce leads the way on the depth chart and is entering camp 100% after having a procedure done on his shoulder this offseason.
If Pierce can return to the form he had during his rookie year of the 2012 season as a spell to Rice — the third-year back averaged 4.9 yards-per-carry and amassed 532 yards and found the end zone once — then Baltimore may not be dealt too much of a setback in not having No. 27 touching the rock for the first two weeks of the 2014 season.
