The outrage over Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice kicked up to another level today after TMZ released video of him hitting his then-fiancee inside an elevator at an Atlantic City casino.
The #Ravens have terminated RB Ray Rice's contract this afternoon.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 8, 2014
It was a move that most of the internet was calling for on social media, so how exactly did Twitter respond? A lot of praise.
Never too late to do the right thing
— Michael Smith (@michaelsmith) September 8, 2014
Gotta go. Gotta go @Ravens: The #Ravens have terminated RB Ray Rice's contract this afternoon.”
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) September 8, 2014
They waited too long and defended him too much, but now the Ravens have made a powerful statement about domestic violence and cut Ray Rice.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 8, 2014
#ravens just did the right thing in releasing ray rice.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 8, 2014
Steve Bisciotti just did Roger Goodell a huge favor. Ravens did what the NFL wouldn't do.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) September 8, 2014
Some were still critical of the Ravens, and rightfully so.
Given a choice, the #Ravens defended Ray Rice. Given no other choice, they released Ray Rice
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) September 8, 2014
The Ravens spent months backing Ray Rice until the moment it got too hard to do so. Shouldn't be a standing ovation for them today.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) September 8, 2014
The Ravens don't deserve any praise for this. Sorry.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) September 8, 2014
The Ravens still handled this miserably, and Goodell is still a putz. No player release is going to change that.
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) September 8, 2014
Ray Rice didn't get released because of what he did. He got released b/c video went public. Ravens backed him loudly 'til that point
— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) September 8, 2014
Good for the Ravens to release Rice, but when is their apology for the past four months and especially that news conference on May 23
— Joe Reedy (@joereedy) September 8, 2014
thanks for releasing Ray Rice but don't think we've forgotten about this, @Ravens https://t.co/Y479asJ5sV
— Lana Berry (@Lana) September 8, 2014
Again, the NFL is not a democracy: were it not Rice but a down-the-line player, he would have been long gone. #Ravens
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) September 8, 2014
And who would dare sign him?
Rice's career might be over. Who's going to sign him and take the PR hit?
— Jean-Jacques Taylor (@JJT_Journalist) September 8, 2014
So no way does any team in the league touch Ray. Not for a long time (won't say ever because this is the NFL)
— Teddy's Hooman🏳️🌈 (@Andrew_Garda) September 8, 2014
Ravens had no choice but to terminate Ray Rice's contract. Will be a long time, if ever, before another team signs him.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2014