It was announced on December 1st that former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice had won his appeal of the indefinite suspension imposed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on September 8th. As I'm sure you know from the news the case is about a incident that occurred on February 15th, 2014 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.     

The courts released a detailed statement covering the entire process of the case. According to the release by the US District court of appeals, Rice hit his then fiancee Janay Palmer in a elevator after a verbal dispute and physical altercation. On June 16th 2014, he (Rice) met for the first time with commissioner Goodell and explained his case. Goodell also saw video footage of Rice from that night outside of the elevator. On that very same day the Commissioner stated that Rice would be suspended for 2 games and be fined a extra weeks pay for his actions. Rice had expressed his sorrow, but the public was outraged.    

Reporters and news stations were told that Rice had testified that he, “had hit Mrs. Rice, she then fell, hit her head on the elevator handrail, and knocked herself out”. The public didn't buy his story. Reports surfaced that the hit by Rice had actually knocked out Janay Palmer.

The Commissioner also took lots of heat for his original punishment of Rice. Reporters and the public criticized Goodell for his “lack of spine” in the case, and at points, even called for Goodell to step down as Commissioner.

Following a few months of more court proceedings, a second video was released to the public. This video showed all of the original video, but now showed Rice dragging his unconscious fiancee out into the hall and then leaving her there. Rice testified that as he was trying to move her a security guard spotted him and stated, “You assaulted her! Step away from her now”. On September 8th Commissioner Goodell released a statement claiming Rice would “be suspended indefinitely”. Rice responded by filing a appeal in November stating that Goodell had called Rice after toughening the NFL's domestic violence policy and telling him that the new sanctions would not effect Mr. Rice. US District Court Judge Barbara S. Jones was the judge for this appeal. The NFL continued on its angle that Rice lied to Commissioner Goodell in their original meeting.

So here we sit with Ray Rice winning his appeal and eligible to return to full reinstatement into the NFL. Judge Jones stated in her report that, “I do not doubt that viewing the video in September evoked horror in Commissioner Goodell as it did with the public. But this does not change the fact that Rice did not lie or mislead the NFL at the June 16 meeting”.

Both Ray Rice and Roger Goodell's reputations have both been destroyed in this case. Goodell had been in deep waters for quite sometime before this case, but his lack of decisiveness and spine showed clear when dealing with Rice's initial punishment. Rice too has suffered tremendously. Not only has his reputation as a man been annihilated in the eyes of the public and some players, but he now carries what analysts call “extra baggage”, or a tag or label such as “lazy” or “arrogant”. Except Rice's is much worse. Signing Rice to a deal for any team immediately brings a massive media spotlight and lots of criticism. Most organizations will be quick to avoid any major signing with that much of a risk.

Now that I'm at this point I'd like to express something to those of you reading:
1) I thank you for reading my stories on a continuing basis and in my next few paragraphs I will be expressing my personal take on the subject.
2) I have used only the facts provided in the statement released following the case. The link is provided here.

I believe it is cases like this that show who the real cowards are in the world. As boys we are raised to always respect women and treat them as Queens. There is NEVER a situation in everyday life where it is acceptable to lay your hands on a woman. During his younger years I was big Ray Rice fan, he was a very good running back, but this is the part that bugs me every time I think about this case. There are kids who look up to these players. Kids who say, “When I get older I'm gonna be the next Peyton Manning, or the next Drew Brees”. Most NFL players understand that they're some of the biggest inspirations in these kids lives.

Ray Rice obviously lost sight of that. As a professional athlete you promise to hold yourself to a higher standard of moral character. You understand that since your life is now becoming available to the whole world you need to think and chose your words and actions even more carefully. Most of the superstars are doing great things for their communities and towns. Such as Seahawks QB Russell Wilson visiting a local Seattle childrens hospital every single Tuesday. Or players getting involved with the NFL “Play 60” campaign. I truly wish that Goodell would have thrown down the hammer on Rice's punishment the first time around. A lifetime ban would have been sufficient in my book. It would have shown Goodells leadership and avoided the PR nightmare that ensued.

While ESPN reports that currently 4 teams have shown interest in Ray Rice I hope that they pass on him and wait till the draft. I would like to see his career end because of this incident. Telling the public your sorry for your actions doesn't justify them Mr. Rice, and I hope the end of your career is soon and I never have to see your name on the back of a jersey for the rest of my life.

Also, The NFL has joined a campaign to help stop domestic violence following the Ray Rice case. The link to find out more information can be found here.