2014 NFL Season Thread

[Dalcowboyfan92]

I feel it's too little too late for Goodell to resign. This isn't the 'man going down with his ship' kind of thing, it's just I think the port of call called "Resignation Vista" passed the Good Ship NFL by and Commission/Captain Goodell is forced to hold onto control of this ship.

[kewp80]

Why does the White House need to issue a statement about their reaction to this? Must be a pretty slow news day.

[BBTV]

If Goodell didn't see the tape, or even if he did (and admitted it) then he should not have to resign. He admitted a mistake and did what he could to fix it. It was a pretty bad mistake and poor judgement (especially if he saw the video) but still.

Now if it comes out that he did see the video and is really denying it, then he will have lost credibility and should seriously consider resigning because that's a pretty big lie to be caught in (and shows incredibly poor judgement since it's such an easy thing to prove). The owners would never force him out, but nothing he says will be able to be believed if it turns out that he is lying.

The Ravens certainly finally did the right thing. There's no way you can put this guy out there and expect your female audience (even the idiots) to cheer for him. Most of the male audience wouldn't cheer for him either, but a lot would because sports.

[TheOldRoman]

Why does the White House need to issue a statement about their reaction to this? Must be a pretty slow news day.

Yes. This is the world we live in. Healthcare.gov had a security breach by identity thieves, but it's totally not a big deal so don't worry. Jennifer Lawrence's boobs hit the internet and it's OH MY GOD, WE NEED INTERNATIONAL ACCORDS TO STOP SUCH HACKERS. THOSE MONSTERS.

[Unocal]

With that video and one punch, I feel like the NFL's credibility has been obliterated and Ray Rice/Roger Goodell have ruined the season and made it hard to enjoy anything going forward.

[dbadefense1990]

I really hope Goddell resigns after this incident, especially if he saw that video. 2 games for that was ludicrous to begin with, and I'm glad he won't be playing another down after this incident.

Goodell won't. Popularity among its fans isn't what current day commissioners seek; it's pure profits for the league's owners. Maybe Adam Silver is going against this current trend.

[dbadefense1990]

Why does the White House need to issue a statement about their reaction to this? Must be a pretty slow news day.

Yes. This is the world we live in. Healthcare.gov had a security breach by identity thieves, but it's totally not a big deal so don't worry. Jennifer Lawrence's boobs hit the internet and it's OH MY GOD, WE NEED INTERNATIONAL ACCORDS TO STOP SUCH HACKERS. THOSE MONSTERS.

"All humans are equal, but some humans are more equal than others."

[Cosmic]

http://www.tmz.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video/

So to all of those people who said "we don't know what happened"...can I finally call Ray Rice a deplorable human being without you running to his defence?

There was no sound; we don't know what she said to make him do that.

No seriously, I'm glad that his douchebaggery really caught up to him.

[FiddySicks]

I'll step up and be the first to admit that I was in the crowd that said the punishment was fine because we didn't actually see what had really happened. I honestly figured she might have been completely wasted and fell and hit her head or something after he gave her a light shove. Still really bad, but at least somewhat understood.

After seeing that video though, I'll be the first to say that I was dead wrong. Deplorable doesn't even begin to describe what that was. That was downright horrifying. Ray Rice not only shouldn't ever be allowed to see a football field again, he shouldn't be allowed to see the world without bars in front of him for a LONG time.

:censored: Ray Rice.

[CS85]

To play devil's advocate, a lot of people are citing this as proof of the NFL's lies:

Peter King, 7/29/14:

There is one other thing I did not write or refer to, and that is the other videotape the NFL and some Ravens officials have seen, from the security camera inside the elevator at the time of the physical altercation between Rice and his fiancée.

He later retracted that statement because he didn't back check his source (or was paid/ordered to bury himself):

Earlier this summer a source I trusted told me he assumed the NFL had seen the damaging video that was released by TMZ on Monday morning of Rice slugging his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, in an Atlantic City elevator. The source said league officials had to have seen it. This source has been impeccable, and I believed the information. So I wrote that the league had seen the tape. I should have called the NFL for a comment, a lapse in reporting on my part. The league says it has not seen the tape, and I cannot refute that with certainty. No one from the league has ever knocked down my report to me, and so I was surprised to see the claim today that league officials have not seen the tape.

I hope when this story is fully vetted, we all get the truth and nothing but the truth.

So there's that, if anyone tries to throw that in your face as evidence.

[waltere]

The CFL has a rule against signing players who are under suspension or banishment in the NFL.

I'm not sure who'd pick him up as an analyst. Not even ESPN is that tone def.

As for the UFC? Nah. They'd insist he fight men.

I think Ray Rice getting beaten the crap out of by the UFC Women's Champion would be pretty funny

[WSU151]

To play devil's advocate, a lot of people are citing this as proof of the NFL's lies:

Peter King, 7/29/14:

There is one other thing I did not write or refer to, and that is the other videotape the NFL and some Ravens officials have seen, from the security camera inside the elevator at the time of the physical altercation between Rice and his fiancée.

He later retracted that statement because he didn't back check his source (or was paid/ordered to bury himself):

Earlier this summer a source I trusted told me he assumed the NFL had seen the damaging video that was released by TMZ on Monday morning of Rice slugging his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, in an Atlantic City elevator. The source said league officials had to have seen it. This source has been impeccable, and I believed the information. So I wrote that the league had seen the tape. I should have called the NFL for a comment, a lapse in reporting on my part. The league says it has not seen the tape, and I cannot refute that with certainty. No one from the league has ever knocked down my report to me, and so I was surprised to see the claim today that league officials have not seen the tape.

I hope when this story is fully vetted, we all get the truth and nothing but the truth.

So there's that, if anyone tries to throw that in your face as evidence.

Chris Mortensen had a source in July (from the Ravens, IIRC) that told him exactly what happened in the elevator.

From Mike and Mike in the Morning in July/August: "We saw the TMZ video of what happened outside—when he was dragging her out unconscious—but inside, I'm told from those who have seen the video, it wasn't pretty. In fact, she attacks him—we don't know the reason why—and he strikes her, strikes her hard. And her head—according to the sources I've spoken to—struck the rail inside the elevator and she was unconscious.

If Mort's sources had seen it, I'm guessing someone in the NFL and Ravens had seen it. Maybe that's a bad assumption.

[WSU151]

As far as Goodell, this doesn't make the most disliked commissioner in sports history (maybe since Judge Landis), then I don't know who is. Just given the fact he waited and waited to finally do something makes him about as cupable as

Rice.

Gary Bettman will like to have a word with you.

Still though, just bad all around. Goodell won't resign, though he should.

The only issue I have with Goodell is that Rice's ban should have been bumped up to the 6-game suspension as that is the new rule and he should not have banned him today. I do understand why Goodell banned him, but if you set a precedence, then you need to follow it.

You think people would welcome back Rice in 5 or 6 weeks if the suspension had been changed to 6 games?

[TheOldRoman]

The NFL is as image conscious as anyone, so they undoubtedly heard of his interview. If they were serious about doing the right thing, they easily could have contacted Mortensen and gotten hold of the people who had the video. They just figured it wouldn't come out.

[Chicageaux]

TMZ has stated they will release evidence tomorrow that will show NFL not only saw the video before but that they turned a blind eye to it.

It's about to get crazy.

[JayMac]

I hate TMZ and everything they are but I can't wait.

[ninersdd]

I don't think it's a good idea to leave any receiver wide open, especially one by the name of Calvin Johnson.

[CS85]

TMZ has stated they will release evidence tomorrow that will show NFL not only saw the video before but that they turned a blind eye to it.

It's about to get crazy.

Good. I want this whole thing to bend the knee of the mighty NFL. Repercussions are necessary and deserved.

[IceCap]

TMZ has stated they will release evidence tomorrow that will show NFL not only saw the video before but that they turned a blind eye to it.

It's about to get crazy.

[rvrdgsfn]

I say this as a ravens fan & I mean this from the bottom of my heart...

Good Riddance....