The Ray Rice suspension wasn’t exactly welcomed with open arms by the NFL fanbase. To call the reaction skeptical would still be a mild moniker. Befuddlement is a bit closer, but now we’re splitting. What we can all agree on is that we’d like a clearer explanation of the reasoning behind Rice’s light suspension in comparison to heavier or equal penalties levied to players who fail minor drug tests or other such non-violent infractions. Unfortunately, it appears we are no closer to an explanation, even after the NFL sent a representative to offer just that on Mike & Mike.
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Pro Football Talk quoted the radio interview with NFL VP Adolpho Birch and it was every bit as murky as the Ray Rice case itself. Birch claims the NFL was “bound in large part by precedent in prior cases.”
You mean, like Josh Gordon’s first suspension for substance abuse in 2013, also a two game suspension and also Gordon’s first violation in the NFL? Are victimless crimes are on par with beating your wife now? Well, not exactly, per Birch, who believes Rice’s punishment was fitting.
“It is multiple games and hundreds of thousands of dollars. I think it’s fair to say that doesn’t reflect that you condone the behavior,” Birch said.
NFL fans want to hear a little more resounding language like, say, the NFL vehemently opposes violence against women. You don’t condone the behavior? What is that? There’s a difference between ‘not condoning’ something and actively rooting it out of your organizational culture.
I don’t condone pouring milk in a cereal bowl before the cereal. That’s creepy and I disagree with that approach to breakfast. I vehemently oppose the abuse of human rights and humans in general. That’s way, way worse. Pour your cereal however you want as long as you don’t beat someone before or after you do it.
See how that works? There are levels to everything and the NFL is inexplicably blind to this fact right now, or they’re just in massive Denial Mode.
People ask about Rice’s punishment and the NFL points to the red spot on his wrist and says, “See?” then assumes the questions are over. Until a more definitive answer emerges from the NFL, expect the Rice issue to simmer among fans and players alike.