Baltimore Ravens owners Steve Bisciotti denied many aspects of an ESPN report that outlined how the Ravens mishandled Ray Rice’s domestic abuse situation.
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?
Among the denials: Bisciotti claims he did not ask the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell to suspend Rice only two games back in July.
Bisciotti denies that he campaigned the league for a shorter suspension of Ray Rice.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 22, 2014
"I expected 4 or 6 games. I was as surprised as everybody else that it was 2" - Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on Goodell original suspension
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 22, 2014
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kevin Van Valkenburg wrote on Friday:
"For its part, the NFL — which in other player discipline cases has been able to obtain information that’s been sealed by court order — took an uncharacteristically passive approach when it came to gathering evidence, opening itself up to widespread criticism, allegations of inconsistent approaches to player discipline and questions about whether Goodell gave Rice — the corporate face of the Baltimore franchise — a light punishment as a favor to his good friend Bisciotti. Four sources said Ravens executives, including Bisciotti, Cass and Newsome, urged Goodell and other league executives to give Rice no more than a two-game suspension, and that’s what Goodell did on July 24."
It’s hard to take Bisciotti’s denial at its word, considering how extensive the ESPN report is. The Ravens are in total face-saving mode right now, but even a denial like this probably won’t earn them much good will in the court of public opinion. Few trust the Ravens and the NFL right now, and for good reason.
More from Fansided.com
FanSided College Football top 25 Poll: Week 4
Top 10 overrated college football teams after Week 4
NFL Power Rankings after Week 3
NFL’s highest-paid players for 2014 season
NFL’s top 20 richest players of all-time