Thoughts on Ray Rice getting (only) a 2 game suspension

[Golfingdad]

For everybody (maybe slightly more 'directed' at @newtogolf ) but really, just F(everybodys)I:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11291108/ray-rice-baltimore-ravens-made-biggest-mistake-my-life

[newtogolf]

For everybody (maybe slightly more 'directed' at @newtogolf) but really, just F(everybodys)I:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11291108/ray-rice-baltimore-ravens-made-biggest-mistake-my-life

Thanks Drew , this is obviously for the benefit of his legal defense team to demonstrate remorse and to rebuild his image for his endorsement deals.

Motives aside, he's clearly admitting to doing something in the elevator that goes beyond a casual push so for those reasons, two game suspension is way too short.  IMO, 8 games would be about right.

[Gunther]

Motives aside, he's clearly admitting to doing something in the elevator that goes beyond a casual push so for those reasons, two game suspension is way too short.  IMO, 8 games would be about right.

Occam's Razor strikes again.

[Golfingdad]

Thanks Drew , this is obviously for the benefit of his legal defense team to demonstrate remorse and to rebuild his image for his endorsement deals.

Motives aside, he's clearly admitting to doing something in the elevator that goes beyond a casual push so for those reasons, two game suspension is way too short.  IMO, 8 games would be about right.

LOL.  Don't get me wrong ... the whole "I'm really really really sorry for that you guys found out what I did" apology non-apology that comes from celebrities/politicians/athletes these days is pretty lame.  Completely agree there.

But they aren't going to be making these apologies, going to 12-step programs, etc, if they didn't do something wrong.

Given the suspensions handed out for Roethlisberger and Josh Gordon, probably among others, this seems awfully low.  But, only the Rice's and Goodell know the full story here, so ... it is what it is.

[Gunther]

Josh Brent making a visit to Goodell soon, this weekend, I think. He actually killed someone. We're expecting a full season for him, especially now, with all the heat he's taking over the Rice suspension. Wouldn't want to be seeing him about now.

[RonTheSavage]

Josh Brent making a visit to Goodell soon, this weekend, I think. He actually killed someone. We're expecting a full season for him, especially now, with all the heat he's taking over the Rice suspension. Wouldn't want to be seeing him about now.

Yeah Im not looking forward to Aldon Smiths upcoming visit either. Goodell has to save face so he might drop the Hammer on my guy Aldon.

[Gunther]

Yeah Im not looking forward to Aldon Smiths upcoming visit either. Goodell has to save face so he might drop the Hammer on my guy Aldon.

Absolutely, he's under some pressure. But, on the other hand, if it doesn't involve hitting a woman, maybe he'll go easy to balance it out a bit. We'll see...

[newtogolf]

Read an article today regarding an interview about Gordon, turns out the NFL recreational drug policy was collectively bargained between the owners and NFLPA.  Before a player gets suspended for any games he must have failed a drug test 4 times which means this is Gordon's 5th or 6th time for failing a drug test.  It all makes a bit more sense now.

[jamo]

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/josh-gordon-and-the-nfls-drug-problem/

[saevel25]

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtogolf

Read an article today regarding an interview about Gordon, turns out the NFL recreational drug policy was collectively bargained between the owners and NFLPA.  Before a player gets suspended for any games he must have failed a drug test 4 times which means this is Gordon's 5th or 6th time for failing a drug test.  It all makes a bit more sense now.

I believe they can count incidents in college against that. When he got drafted, I think he was already up to 2 out of the 4 failed times because he got hit twice in college or something like that. Once he got kicked out of Baylor for drug problems.

With regards to the current testing method. I am not a fan of how they go about testing,

Quote:

The “A” cup is tested first, and if it meets the threshold for a positive test, the “B” cup needs only to show traces of the substance to count toward a positive test.

In Gordon's case he tested positive in Cup A, and Cup B had trace amounts. Well if Cup B was chosen first he would have passed the test. Its basically 50/50 if your drug tests are really close to the limit. I think in that regard they need to make it that both Cups should test positive, if not then he passes. It should be definitive or not, luck shouldn't play a part in the drug testing.

[zipazoid]

Read an article today regarding an interview about Gordon, turns out the NFL recreational drug policy was collectively bargained between the owners and NFLPA.  Before a player gets suspended for any games he must have failed a drug test 4 times which means this is Gordon's 5th or 6th time for failing a drug test.  It all makes a bit more sense now.

Gordon came into the league with one strike against him due to his college career included being kicked off of Baylor's team for pot. His second strike was, allegedly, codeine in cough syrup he took last year. This current situation would be his third strike, thus the one-year suspension which we are presently waiting for the results of the appeal.

The reports I've heard was that it was just barely over the limit positive & when they tested the second sample from the same test it came out under the threshold, thus the test is inconclusive. He had passed over 70 other tests.

[Golfingdad]

On today's episode of Better Late Than Never:

http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/11425377/nfl-implements-domestic-violence-penalties

6 game suspension for first offense (with qualifiers added in that could allow them to raise it higher; history prior to joining the league, using a weapon, things of that nature) and lifetime ban for second offense (which can be appealed after a year).

[dsc123]

I bet Roger Godell has a two-way miss off the tee.

6 games and a lifetime suspension...that's a really heavy penalty...but then again, maybe its appropriate.

[Moxie Dawn]

F*** Roger Goodell. There is just no sense in some of the things he does.

[Golfingdad]

F*** Roger Goodell. There is just no sense in some of the things he does.

@newtogolf brought this up in another thread and it reminded me that I wanted to respond to your post.  I don't disagree with your general statement but I don't see how it applies here.

1. He made a decision in the Ray Rice case.
2. After a lot of lambasting and mudslinging, finally realized it was not a very good decision.
3. He listened to all of the critics, and then, at least for the future, "corrected" his mistake.

That seems quite sane and sensible to me.

[newtogolf]

@newtogolf brought this up in another thread and it reminded me that I wanted to respond to your post.  I don't disagree with your general statement but I don't see how it applies here.

He made a decision in the Ray Rice case.

After a lot of lambasting and mudslinging, finally realized it was not a very good decision.

He listened to all of the critics, and then, at least for the future, "corrected" his mistake.

That seems quite sane and sensible to me.

I agree with you except that it shows how subjective his office is when it comes to these sorts of decisions.  I'm assuming he didn't come up with 2 by pulling numbers out of a hat so why was 2 weeks acceptable when he made the decision on Rice but today it's 6 weeks and then being banned from the league?  I see only two options,

1. he really didn't consider the seriousness what Rice did and didn't feel it warranted a severe punishment
2. He went against his best judgment and set a new policy that would get the media off his back.

Either way it places into question his ability to make such decisions

[Golfingdad]

I agree with you except that it shows how subjective his office is when it comes to these sorts of decisions.  I'm assuming he didn't come up with 2 by pulling numbers out of a hat so why was 2 weeks acceptable when he made the decision on Rice but today it's 6 weeks and then being banned from the league?  I see only two options,

he really didn't consider the seriousness what Rice did and didn't feel it warranted a severe punishment

He went against his best judgment and set a new policy that would get the media off his back.

Either way it places into question his ability to make such decisions

Only if you are really, really cynical.  If you're not cynical, it reads like this:

He made a decision that he thought was warranted.  He realized after the fact that he made a mistake.  He admitted that he made a mistake and figured out a way to correct that mistake for the future.

To me, that is the epitome of what being a leader and an upstanding person is all about.  And I'm not even remotely a Roger Goodell fan.  I think some of the things he's done - worrying more about expanding the season, less about player injuries and concussions in particular - are shameful.  But in this case, he deserves some credit, IMO.

[Gunther]

Only if you are really, really cynical.  If you're not cynical, it reads like this: He made a decision that he thought was warranted.  He realized after the fact that he made a mistake.  He admitted that he made a mistake and figured out a way to correct that mistake for the future. To me, that is the epitome of what being a leader and an upstanding person is all about.  And I'm not even remotely a Roger Goodell fan.  I think some of the things he's done - worrying more about expanding the season, less about player injuries and concussions in particular - are shameful.  But in this case, he deserves some credit, IMO.

Agree completely and further, the new rule eliminates subjectivity. He fixed his mistake.