[redwitch]

Sadly, this is nothing new. OJ was bailed out of trouble over and over from junior high on because he was a star athlete. This convinced him he was above the law and he acted accordingly. Athletes are idolized regardless of their private persona. Babe Ruth was a drunk. Ted Williams was a bigoted bully. And so on and so forth.

Teams and coaches will protect their star players as much as possible. This is true in high school, college and the pros. We wish it was just the players of today but it isn't. The difference is we hear more about private behavior today.

People should not be excused for bad behavior just because they have a talent. They should be held accountable. Rice's behavior was criminal and should be treated as such.

[Taltarzac725]

History of Battered Women’s Movement

This should put this in perspective. It does seem to have a warning on it that if you are looking at this your web browzer history might show it.

[Chi-Town]

What was shown was a surveillance tape. Don't you think people in the know had seen this some time ago? Heads should roll.

[karostay]

Originally Posted by MarkinMd

So many NFL players of today are simply thugs. I have my own reasons to believe why she married him but its only my opinion.

Money Ya Think !

[Bay Kid]

These are the people our children and grandchildren look at as their heroes? No wonder the world is changing for the worse.

[MarkinMd]

Originally Posted by karostay

Money Ya Think !

All the money in the world isn't worth it.

[collie1228]

Think about it. The NFL suspended him for two games after viewing a video of him dragging his fiance's unconscious body out of an elevator. They now claim that they never saw the video inside the elevator where he brutally punched her and knocked her out. So now that they know, they suspended him indefinitely and the team cancelled his contract. How did they think she became unconscious in the first place? Why should this latest video make any difference? Didn't they know he hit her? There is no excuse for any of the decision makers in this case - it's time for accountability.

[graciegirl]

In the video that they did see.... He dragged her out and DROPPED her HARD on her face unconscious. WHO would do that????? When someone came and saw them he started patting her.

SOMEONE KNEW. THAT tape of the interior of the elevator was there.

Something shady happened.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

I heartily agree with Rice's removal. I am against violence against women, children and men of any kind. That being said I am wondering if the governing body of a business has the obligation/jurisdiction to discipline its employees for such transgressions. as far as I know the NBA/MLB/NHL or for that matter Walmart have no such policies. I know that some NFL employees ( and that is what they are) have a propensity for violent behavior, but other employers do too ( though not as much and very less publicized).
Perhaps all sports organizations can learn from this and initiate their own policies. I'm not sure if private employers ( Google et al) would develop a policy. Just thinking out loud.

[MarkinMd]

I know if I were found guilty of domestic violence when I was working I would have been terminated immediately.

[2BNTV]

A very disturbing video of what happened. Some thoughts:
1. No one should ever put their hands on another person.
2. I think he lied to the commissioner before he even knew, that all elevators have video surveillance.
3. Another case of a pampered athlete who grows up thinking he is special and above the laws.
4. Another case of "Roid Rage"?
5. Janay's marrying Ray and her thinking of his livelihood, is something that speaks volumns to me.
6. Another bonehead play that will cost him his career and 10M, not to mention the shame, of being known as an abuser of women.

Shame, shame, shame on you Ray Rice.

This country has a history of giving people second chances, so I hope they can live in peace and harmony, and get their lives back to normalcy.

[Walt.]

Does anybody think that if the Baltimore Ravens were defending Super Bowl Champions this year that Rice would have been dumped? Didn't he have a less-than-terrific 2013 season? Perhaps they were just glad to be rid of him and save some money. I doubt the NFL has suddenly seen the light and will dump the low-lifes. Say... how's Michael Vick doing these days?

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by collie1228

Think about it. The NFL suspended him for two games after viewing a video of him dragging his fiance's unconscious body out of an elevator. They now claim that they never saw the video inside the elevator where he brutally punched her and knocked her out. So now that they know, they suspended him indefinitely and the team cancelled his contract. How did they think she became unconscious in the first place? Why should this latest video make any difference? Didn't they know he hit her? There is no excuse for any of the decision makers in this case - it's time for accountability.

So, the question becomes; did the NFL fire him because THEY had just seen the latest video? Or because it had gone public and WE just saw it?

[rubicon]

One poster said that violence in football was not new and referenced OJ Simpson. I can remember the how Syracuse University tried to contain scandals surrounding Jim Brown's alleged rapes.

Perhaps celebrities can claim they have no obligations to fans our an audience but those people running their organizations NFL MGM etc do. they can say what they want but celebrities bad behavior do affect young people and young people do try an emulate them and their bad behavior

So good riddance Rice. And finally we have heard how abused wives seem to not be able to leave their abusive husband and always come tho their defense. Mrs Rice is Exhibit A

[redwitch]

I was the one who brought up Simpson. The point I was trying to make was that it isn't a problem of today's athletes. It is a problem of athletic organizations and has been probably for time immemorial (Roman gladiators were known for their orgies; Greek athletes were feted and given slaves to do with as they pleased). So long as athletes are put on a pedestal for a God-given talent and excused from decent behavior, behaviors such as those exhibited by Rice, et al. will continue.

Schools, boosters, professional teams, etc. need to hold their athletes accountable. Fans need to stop excusing bad behavior from star players (remember Kobe Bryant and the rape allegations -- didn't stop fans from buying tickets then or now to see him play). We're all culpable so long as we cheer these players on.