UPDATE: Ray Rice was just released by the Ravens. Uh, see below. What did you think happened on the elevator?
Sorry, going on a rant here. With the release of more video of the title fight in a Las Vegas elevator a couple months ago between the 230 lb Ray Rice and his 105 lb fiancee, the blogosphere is abuzz with talk of revisiting and adding to the supposed punishment of Rice. While I have no idea if anything more comes of this, my question is, what the fuck did you think happened anyway? The NFL is disavowing any knowledge of the extra footage, but this matters? What do you think happened when 2 fully conscious people walk into an elevator, and moments later one is being dragged out of the elevator by her hair? You now have people coming out and saying “gee, this makes everything different.” I say, gee, get a fucking clue.
It goes part and parcel with the recent hooraw around Ray McDonald and his scrape with his pregnant girlfriend. Just taken at face value, you have a big party with a bunch of people there. At some point near the end of the party, a woman calls the cops because she feels threatened by her boyfriend. He just happens to be a football player. The cops show up, and notice bruises around her neck and on her arms. I imagine they check out RayMac for consistent injuries, but whatever. He gets arrested for suspicion of spousal abuse.
Here’s where the stupidity starts. Jim Harbaugh, in a dig at his brother, tells anyone and everyone in hearing distance that he would NEVER tolerate a player of his being an abuser of women. Remember, brother John welcomed back Ray Rice after his deal, and said we stand behind our player and will accept the NFL’s (fucking joke of a) punishment. When Ray McDonald gets dragged to jail, ol’ Jimmy is all of a sudden very interested in due diligence and letting the courts handle it.
How do the courts handle it? Well, look at Ray Rice. He and his (speed bag) fiancée promptly get married. And Rice has to attend some sort of anger management deal. In other words, no punishment. Was she under duress to marry him? No one knows that except for them. The NFL levies a huge 2 game suspension, and boom boom, everyone is happy. Except for the victims of domestic violence who rarely get any form of justice and usually get labeled as the cause of what they get. Will he continue to beat her? Another question we won’t get to know. Unless he’s stupid enough to get caught doing the same shit somewhere else, or worst case she eventually shoots him. Hey, just ask Steve McNair. Look, he may never do anything like this again, but if you believe the stats, most abusers don’t stop at just one. Like Lay’s potato chips.
The point being, no one seems to have trouble turning a blind eye to this. From the courts to the league to the owners, to their teammates. Which brings me to Jed York. And to a lesser degree, Trent Baalke. These are the guys who would be in the direct position to lay down some kind of suspension, sit-down, or punishment for RayMac’s alleged abuse. What does Jed do? Absolutely nothing. He has been as quiet is a church mouse. He and Trent Baalke are hiding behind the due process bullshit Harbaugh conveniently hid behind. Not a peep.
Would it kill Jed to sit down Ray McDonald for one game as the investigation proceeds? No. Plenty of other people in similar circumstances are suspended with pay pending an investigation into whatever the deal was. Everyone gets all bend over due process and ‘innocent until proven guilty’ but that all horseshit. What of the pregnant girl who was (apparently) strangled by her very large and very strong boyfriend? What of Ray Rice cold-cocking his fiancée with a punch that very well could have killed her? Lots of people come out and justify this behavior as if it’s boys being boys or whatever. I wonder what they’d say if they were the recipients of systematic and ongoing abuse as the rest of the world winked and laughed.
Forty Niners Forever 
LMJ has been tweeting his way off the team for a while now. Not unheard of and certainly it has happened to others. But you’d have to think the Niners have been trying to trade him since the Seattle game ended early this year.
Tweet tweet skippy. Like I said, Chipper might give him a look.
Unca – Why does it have to be visual evidence that turns the tide? Because obviously visual evidence is much more damming AND it’s harder to spin. Without visual evidence, John Harbaugh saying, “I’m proud of Ray,” works. With visual evidence, John looks like a douche. And the minute the owners or head coaches losing credibility, potentially hurting their pocketbooks, that’s when they throw their players under the bus. Put another way, if they can conceal it, or sweep it under the rug, the NFL wil any chance they get.
The NFL had absolutely seen this video. No question about it. That’s why I laugh when you and Del want to see the NFL and the 49ers hold players accountable. It’s not in their best interest, and like I wrote earlier, the role model is dead. This isn’t the 1939 Yankees.
Ray Rice and Ray McDonald are different cases. Period. Ray Rice is 95% guilty. 5% of the uncertainty is because it might not be Ray on the video, even though Ray has admitted it was him, but Ray might be insane. What if Ray pleads …… drum roll, please….. “Your honor…. I have CTE.” Holy shit…. that’s a can of worms. And if I was Rice’s defense attorney, you’re damn straight I’d threaten the league with that defense.
Regarding Ray McDonald, McDonald is 30% guilty. He hasn’t been charged with a crime. Even though his bail hearing is the 15th, he could be formally charged before then. He hasn’t been. It’s been 10 days without a charge against McDonald. Everyday that goes by, the guilty percentage drops 5%. Tomorrow McDonald will be 25% guilty. Do I think he did it? Absolutely. Will he be found guilty of a crime? Absolutely not. Why? Because the NFL is all about hiding crimes if it hurts their pocketbook.
Anyone watch the Frontline stuff on the NFL and CTE? It’s pathetic.
Regarding Jim Harbaugh’s statement to his team that he’d cut a man …. that’s clearly if the man was convicted. Once he’s convicted, I’m sure he’ll be cut. Until then, McDonald plays.
Is it right? Of course not, but the NFL and American white collar crimes are all about money. Want to know why the Ray McDonald case is about money? Because if he was a broke ass nigga in the inner city, and he hit a woman A.) the cops wouldn’t care. B.) the girl would testify and look for some kind of state program. The reason there’s no charge is because McDonald’s girl stands to lose significantly if she testifies. And as Snnark said earlier, it’s hard as hell to get a conviction without her cooperation. This is about money, and because it’s about money, all the wrong doings will get swept under the rug. Unca and Del need to start realizing the NFL is all about covering up anything unpleasant.
Well, it shouldn’t be. Sorry if thinking that people should be a little less douchey.
Especially when they are raking in obscene amounts of money.
Again, though, it isn’t the NFL I want to hold them accountable. It’s the goddamned team I want to see make a stand.
The Giants years and years ago held the first AIDS awareness day. They’ve helped along many causes. I don’t know. I guess I expect something a little more from the people in this area because of the diversity of the people and their supposed awareness of issues, and the whole idea of contributing to the greater good of society. Not being a bunch of status quo fucknuts who turn the blind eye.
Sure, there’s no onus on the organization to get in front of this. There’s no award for being proactive and maybe using this as a way to address a big issue in this country, In fact, it hurts the team to bench the guy. If not, why even have the pretense of personal conduct policies in the players contracts?
So, in other words, get off the fucking can and do or say SOMETHING, Jed.
Don’t hide behind everyone else.
I have no faith in Jed York. Maybe that’s where we differ.
He’s consulting with his mother or his lawyers for sure.
On a separate note, my bromance with Jim Harbaugh just got taken to another level. Yesterday he’s being grilled by Lowell Cohn (sp?) about resurfacing reports Harbaugh’s losing the locker room, and today Harbaugh’s cutting LaMicheal James. Mike Singletary never found his rat. Singletary was miles from finding his rat, in fact, the rat was never found. But Harbaugh knew who his rat was. Harbaugh tolerated his rat. Was their any doubt it was James? James loses kick return duties last week, then the NFL report resurfaces the day of the game? Who was more disgruntled than James? Harbaugh knew it. He also knew he could handle a disgruntled James on his own. But you pile on Aldon and Ray and something’s gotta go. The best part about it…. LaMicheal James was a Trent Baalke second round pick. I wonder how that discussion went?
Jim: Trent, we need to cut LaMichael.
Trent: You haven’t given him a shot.
Jim: He sucks.
Trent: No he doesn’t. You used him in the Super Bowl.
Jim: And he fumbled.
Trent: That’s why you’re blackballing him?
Jim: He lost his kick return duties and I don’t have much confidence in him as a running back.
Trent: You think he’s the rat, don’t you?
Jim: No.
Trent: That’s it. He’s your rat.
Jim: NO.
Trent: Well he’s my second round pick.
Jim: So.
Trent: If we dump him he’ll play well for another team and you’ll look bad.
Jim: Guess I’ll just have to take that chance, buddy.
Jed likes to re-tweet stupid shit fans ask him to re-tweet. If that’s a priority in your life then you pretty much have no clue how to handle this situation. And really, Jed should have been counseled on what to do here. This issue is bigger than a game plan, it’s his team, he could have (and should have) suspended RayMac pending an investigation for all of the reasons already listed. If a teacher is accused of child molestation do they let the teacher continue teaching during the investigation? Of course not. And don’t forget that Aaron Hernandez was cut THE DAY he was arrested.
I’m still trying to figure out how dumb everyone is with this Rice thing. There was video of him dragging her unconscious out of the elevator. Short of her having narcolepsy I’m not sure how else she got unconscious. Plus, Ray admitted to hitting her, didn’t he?
Now everyone sees it and all hell breaks loose? I wonder how stupid those female Raven fans feel now after wearing Ray’s jersey to that pre season game and cheering him after he was announced?
This blog needs to work on analogies for the day. Flavor’s teacher analogy would work if McDonald worked with women. He doesn’t (Sunday’s game against the Cowboys aside).
Well, I’m getting there . . .
I wonder if the Ravens give ol’ LMJ a sniff at RB.
Nevermore?
In other words, it’s Jim throwing brother John a bone for throwing him under the bus regarding Rice. He figures he’ll throw him an RB that he all of a sudden needs.
What happened after game 1 that could have precipitated LMJ getting cut that was previously unknown?…
Singletary couldn’t find a rat in India. Or Chicago even.
I’m fucking embarrassed to be a Niner fan. And so should the rest of you.
I love my Niners. Know why? Because I don’t look to sports for accountability, discipline or justice. If you want justice, look to our American justice system….. er, okay… bad example. This just in….. THERE IS NO JUSTICE!!!!!! AND DESERVE’S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!!
This ain’t the fucking movies. It’s real life. But if it were the movies, you know what I’d do to Ray McDonald now? “What now?”
John Clayton while talking to Keith Olbermann on the Rice issue also brought up (6:00 mark) that there seems to have been another domestic call to police involving Ray back in May. I’m sure nothing happened back then as well. I seriously hope he breaks his neck Sunday night vs the Bears.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11490599
A second incident for Ray McDonald? See… this is what I’m talking about right here, the interview between Olbermann and Clayton outlines my stance perfectly. Clayton is sure Goodell never saw the second tape of Ray hitting his girlfriend. MY. FUCKIN. ASS. So TMZ can get access to it, but the NFL, a 9 BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY per year can’t? Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining. TMZ makes maybe 200 million a year – maybe. The NFL might make 45 times that amount, but somehow, miraculously, Goodell can’t acquire those tapes but TMZ can and Goodel didn’t see the first tape of Rice hitting his girlfriend? Who is stupid enough to believe that? Clayton says no because Clayton’s job is insider NFL information. Don’t want the tap shut off. But Olbermann doesn’t push Clayton hard enough. Even Olbermann’s bought.
And if you don’t believe the 49ers knew about the first police visit to McDonald’s house back in May, I have a bridge to sell you and my PayPal account is locked and loaded. Now… do you want to find your happy place? I do. I don’t look to all these crooks for justice. Just hit someone. Knock their fuckin’ teeth out.
That’s the even bigger problem. You can no longer hit people and knock their fuckin’ teeth out. The NFL has become a total joke. On and off the field. I’ll just stop watching and buying their product. That’s the best protest I know of. I got fed up with race tracks with synthetic surfaces. I stopped betting ’em. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club didn’t see a dime of my money this last meet. That’s putting your money where your mouth is and not putting it in theirs at the same time.
Ray Rice didn’t do any jail time for his actions. Sorry. This is were mob mentality and vigilantism are not only warranted, but are a necessity. He has it coming.
KNBR reported late this afternoon that TMZ top sleazebag Harvey Levin says TMZ will report tomorrow that the NFL knew about the Rice elevator video and actively ran away from it. Well, duh. But, the details will be interesting, if they have some. So, the question for me goes straight to Goodell — did he know about the tape, and if yes, what did he do / not do about it? If he knew what was on it, I say it makes a difference he ran from it, even though Rice admitted basically what’s on the tape. Because Goodell then acted all surprised and chagrined that after the 2 gamer blew up in his face — as if he were totally in the dark about domestic violence. Then, voila, all of a sudden a mea culpa and this “get tough” policy ushered out quickly and directly out of his office after “consultations” with various groups. Hmmmm. Did he get wind of a firestorm of bad PR coming from a release of the video? With his supposed media savvy, I don’t see how he could have thought this video would be kept under wraps. He’s looking dirtier on this every day…
If I’m Harvey Levin, I’m fearing for my life right about now. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that Levin died in a car accident before releasing the news Goodell knew. Goodell’s such a crook it’s not even funny. Now there’s a lynch mob I can get behind – hanging Goodell? Who the fuck cares if he’s innocent? That might make it better.
This all is so dumb because everyone knew what happened. They wanted to hide it.
Plain and simple. Levin’s gonna wake up with Carl Woodward’s head under his pillow.
Maybe TMZ did Roger a favor by putting that video out in full detail so Roger and the Ravens could have a 2nd chance to make this issue go away?
It’s really going to blow now. NFL really looks BAD!
NFL = $$$$ (Billions of it).
Vegas = $$$$ Billions more of it during the NFL Season.
NFL owners + Roger + Vegas = $$$$$ ‘Mo Money.
When the equation in any debate has $$$$ attached to it, there’s Lawyers and Legal protections insulating the principles involved with tapping that $$$$ Keg.
Roger = Lawyer.
Add NFL Officiating to my equation.
Tighten a Vegas Line with unnecessary flags anyone?
The whole NFL ‘Corporation’ is well insulated with Lawyers and sponsors tripping over themselves to throw more revenue at them.
Life is good in Rogers’ World.
Reports on Sunday say unnamed sources tell that Harbs is “losing the locker room”. Today, LMJ cut. Coincidence? Hmmm…
You also have to factor into the Ray Rice case, the amount of money tied to the Cap in Baltimore.
Roger and all his infinite wisdom, still works for the owners.
You can bet the lenient punishment outrage from the public wasn’t something he was expecting.
Rewriting policy seemed like a good idea to him too.
‘Sorry I blew that call, but I’ll make it right next time’.
Hoping to spare the Ravens a major Cap hit probably was a factor in his decision initially.
I gotta believe Roger and the owners know of plenty going on behind the scenes.
Stuff we never get a sniff of.
One thing they can’t hide from is video evidence.
Just like Aaron Hernandez.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Video just shows the world what stupid looks like.
Ray Ratto had an interesting take that I agree with. He said that John Harbaugh shouldn’t have been making any statements today – that statements should have been made by the owner and Ozzie Newsome – and I agree with that. The GM and owners are the ones who cut players to protect the integrity of the organization. The coach wins games and does X’s and O’s work. Sure, the head coach does some PR, sometimes, but the big stuff should be done by the owners and the GM.
Now you can make the case with “Jim” Harbaugh that Jim set himself up to be the point person on this with his long ago speech to the team that Donte Whitner quoted, but I disagree only because Jed York (who’s a total chicken shit coward btw) has come out and made his position consistent with Jim Harbaugh’s statement. But Jed should be the one doing the PR work on this completely stating the 49ers’ policy on DV, unequivocally. In addition, it’s not Jim Harbaugh’s total decision or call on whether or not Ray McDonald plays on the Sundays leading up to the law’s final determination (to officially charge or not).
And I never really thought about this stuff until I put myself in the shoes of an NFL owner. If this was my team, and I cared at all about my players, I’d want to take the lead. I wouldn’t hide behind my head coach. I’d send a message to the other players this can’t happen – and that message would be clear for both players and fans. And I damn sure wouldn’t be hiding behind my head coach like both Jed York and Steve Biscotti have done. But Jed York, the fuckin’ coward that he is, is all too happy to let Jim Harbaugh take the heat. What a fuckin’ child we have for an owner.
I read that the deal Baltimore gave Ray Rice recently was front loaded.
You can bet the owners have a stake, and likely some major influence, in the decisions Roger makes on behalf of ‘The League’.
He’s paid to be the front man.
It’s all about the almighty dollar.
Make no mistake, the owners count on Roger and his rank and file regime, to protect them from these negative headlines.
Robert Kraft in NE got spanked in the wallet big time with Aaron Hernandez too.
Bad guys play in the NFL, they all know that.
Some worse than others of course.
Now the Ravens have 1 less RB and something like $20-30M paid out already, plus lost future money against the Cap, since Ray’s recent deal was rewritten.
I don’t feel sorry for the owners, that’s a risk they take in this game.
They can afford it.
I happen to enjoy the beating Roger is taking in this episode.
Had he done the proper suspension and/or fined Ray initially, this could have gone away quietly.
I just SMH when I think about guys like Leonard Little and Donte Stallworth.
Each of them killed people while driving drunk.
Neither are in prison.
Talk about League protection.
The 49ers are gonna open up a brand new home this week. Fucking Raymc ain’t nothing but a peanut in a bowl. If I was Jed I wouldn’t spend two minutes worrying about what he should do concerning this shit. Personally I don’t give a rats ass if they cut him suspend him or let him play. If he gets convicted of a felony then he’s through.
If he’s convicted, he’s gone for me too Winder.
Harbaugh can’t back track on that now.
Next man up as it were.
Hoping for RayMc that this isn’t what it’s been reported to be.
it’ll all come out in the wash, or else it will be locked down and forgotten. Things aren’t always what they seem
You know it, especially in the NFL.
Smart phones and, instant access to the Web, are going to give light to lot’s of things that have gone on behind the curtain for years.
And, who gives a fuck what that turd Ratto thinks.
Ratto definitely has a point. Jed is a coward for letting Jim Harbaugh take the heat.
Like Roger covering for the owners, Jed is hiding behind the guys he pays to manage this stuff.
I agree with you though, Jed should have made himself available to at least indicate he backs the decisions made or whatever.
Being invisible doesn’t help.
Jim more or less got in front of this simply because he faces the media everyday.
No way he could have avoided it.
Whitner shined a light on his policy as well so, he’s more than obliged to answer for it.