Ruffled Feathers: How the Ravens mismanaged the Ray Rice situation

However, for the Ravens organization to use anything she said as a way to gain favor for Rice in the public eye or excuse his actions is simply wrong. If the team didn’t want to manage the Rice situation in house by penalizing or punishing him, they should have done their best to say very little. But they have done their best to try to prove that Ray Rice is not a bad guy, and they seem to be going out of their way to do so. The only way they could outdo themselves is if they touted him as some sort of hero when training camp started. They wouldn’t do that though, would they?

Oh, but they did. In the most recent and unnerving chapter of this story yet, the Baltimore Ravens have been very adamant in advertising the support Ray Rice is receiving from their fan base. On the team website, Monday morning’s headline read “Ravens Fans Give Ray Rice Standing Ovation”, which is a story no doubt.  “Should it be?” is the question.

Should it even be occurring? Should a fan base be so blinded by their allegiance for a single player that they are willing to overlook heinous actions as long as he rushes for over 1000 yards this season? Should the term “showing support” or “getting a player’s back” include being OK when the actions of a player are reprehensible?