Mike Ditka on Ray Rice: ‘His earning power is destroyed’

With video released of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his now-wife in an elevator on Monday, it’s hard to have any other opinion on the matter than Rice is a pretty terrible guy and shouldn’t be playing football right now, if ever again.

More from Baltimore Ravens

• Ravens need to give Odell Beckham Jr. a reason not to retire
• NFL Rumors: Ravens additions might not be done after signing Melvin Gordon
• NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
• Is Mark Ingram’s new CFB gig a signal that he’s retired from NFL?
• NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?

But ESPN’s Mike Ditka somehow gave a differing take on the matter in a Monday Night Countdown segment for the network. Ditka didn’t focus on Rice’s terrible actions, instead opting to talk about how much money Rice will lose because of this situation.

Deadspin partially transcribed Ditka’s part in the segment:

"“I don’t know Ray at all,” Ditka said before, for some reason, feeling the need to continue. “I’m sure he’s not a bad guy, but he made a bad mistake.“Hey, two lives, are ruined,” Ditka said. “These two lives are ruined. His earning power is destroyed. That’s an important thing.”"

There’s so much to be appalled by here. First of all, Ditka’s remark that “I’m sure he’s not a bad guy” is absurd. How many good people out there have pummeled a woman to a state of unconscious in an elevator?

Second, this isn’t a situation where one should feel bad for Rice and Ditka implies it’s shame that the back lost his earning power. Rice did lose a lot money on Monday and he only has himself to blame.

Not surprisingly, many Twitter users were perplexed by Ditka’s comments.

On top of being released by the Ravens, Rice was suspended indefinitely by the NFL on Monday.