My World: Justice in the NFL

Unless your favorite football team is determined by the color scheme of the uniform or you don’t necessarily have ears, by now you’ve probably formed an opinion in regard to the National Football League’s scolding of ex-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.

What is an unmistakable case of domestic abuse, as the situation was caught on camera (and has been cir- culating on the Internet since the footage was tossed to the court jest- ers and Malcolm X’s of social net- work), Rice has become the NFL’s Chris Brown.

What is certain is that every other remark that has anything to do with football is either about Browns’ punt- er Spencer Lanning’s facemask kissing the bottom of Antonio Brown’s cleat and Rice’s indefinite suspension, the latter of which does not necessarily signal an end to the former Rutgers running back’s professional career.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell received immense criticism concern- ing his initial decision of handing down a mere two game suspension. However, despite the league’s new domestic violence policy, Rice re- ceived an indefinite suspension from the NFL, which means there is no set amount of time promised for suspen- sion.

“Indefinite” just sounds a little sterner than “two games.” Claims were made that the change in sever- ity of the suspension is because the NFL did not actually see the footage from that night on the elevator.

At the start of the season, Goodell relayed the new policy regarding do- mestic abuse, stating, “Effective immediately, violations of the Personal Conduct Policy regarding assault, battery, domestic violence or sexual assault that involve physical force will be subject to a suspension without pay of six games for a first offense.” He went on to state that a second time offender would receive a lifetime ban from the NFL.

Unless the NFL is dealing with evidence unbeknownst to the public, this is Rice’s first violation, which should result in six games on the bench at most.

What makes the situation more puzzling is the resentment and lack of empa- thy extended toward the Rice family (not just Ray) and no charges or legal reper- cussions have been sought out by the vic- tim herself, who is now happily married to the 27-year-old running back, with whom she has a two and a half year old daugh- ter, Rayven Rice. I don’t buy any talk that supports the notion that the NFL did not view the video, as it was spread all over the news and the Internet. 

I’ve chalked it as an attempt to recover from what is seen as a lackadaisical attempt to discipline the Ravens’ all-time leading rusher after Jamal Lewis and ap- pear as though the NFL commissioner cared even slightly about the events that took place on the elevator.