Ray Rice will lose more than $470,000 for two-game suspension
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is out two games after knocking his former-fiancee unconscious. He’ll also reportedly lose over $470,578 and counting. That total includes only his game checks. The NFL may attach a fine to the two-game suspension.
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Pro Football Talk does not expect Ray Rice to appeal the suspension — after all, he hit a woman and was seen dragging her unconscious body on a security camera. A two-game suspension seems like an injustice after the suspensions handed to Josh Gordon and LaVon Brazill for substance abuse. The NFL seems to have a ethical discrepancy on their hands.
Ray Rice’s recent contract also convolutes — and frankly dilutes — the punishment in a few ways. He has received $25 million in the last 24 months, which makes the money currently owed inconsequential to his earning power. The contract also gives Ray Rice job security, because the Ravens gave him a front loaded deal. They have too much money invested in him to let him go. So they’re stuck paying a really good running back that just so happens to have hit a woman.
He would do well to accept the two-game punishment, keep his head down and avoid unwanted press, and most important clean up his act so that the Ravens don’t have a reason to let him go in the latter half of his contract when he becomes more vulnerable to release.
But it begs the question: what would be a reasonable punishment for Ray Rice? And how much money should be fined? Hit us up in the comment section.