After a long and careful deliberation process, the NFL made the laughable decision to suspend Ray Rice for a mere two games for beating his fiance (who is now his wife) back in February.
Considering how draconian the NFL’s suspension policy is, especially when it comes to things like violations of NCAA policies and drug offenses, one may have been a little surprised that Roger Goodell decided that the time to be lenient was not when someone was caught smoking pot but when someone was quite literally caught on camera physically abusing a woman.
Reminder: This is what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had to say after the NFL upheld a five game suspension for Terrelle Pryor because Pryor got free tattoos IN COLLEGE:
“I believe it is a fair conclusion that he intentionally took steps to ensure that he would be declared ineligible for further college play and would be able to enter the NFL via the supplemental draft,” Goodell said in a news release. “Taken as a whole, I found that this conduct was tantamount to a deliberate manipulation of our eligibility rules in a way that distorts the underlying principles and calls into question the integrity of those rules.”
Getting free tattoos: “Distorts the underlying principles and calls into question the integrity of those rules.” A serious offense worth five games.
Beating up a woman: Ehhh, two games? Knocking a woman out isn’t a violation in the NFL rule book so the NFL’s hands are tied, guys.
Twitter was justifiably upset and the levels of outrage have been the only cathartic thing to come out of this joke of a suspension.
but hey, at least ray rice wasn’t caught on camera hotboxing that elevator. then goodell would have to get SERRRRRRIOUS.
— Bomani Jones (@bomani_jones) July 24, 2014
Is taking adderall (4 game suspension) worse than what Ray Rice did (2 games)?
— Chris B. Brown (@smartfootball) July 24, 2014
ray rice got two games for chris brown-ing, but josh gordon losing a season plus for snoop dogg-ing? that's fair.
— neil mccauley (@the_blueprint) July 24, 2014
@czabe So the NFL suspended Ray Rice for 2 games? I guess Jim Irsay's punishment is coming any day now.
— Nate Collins (@natecollins73) July 24, 2014
We now go live to Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens, and the NFL. pic.twitter.com/Qu90kemVB0
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) July 24, 2014
Only 2 games for Ray Rice? I don't understand Goodell's suspension policy, I don't think he does, either.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) July 24, 2014
The NFL suspended Ray Rice 2 games for assaulting his fiancee. The NFL suspended Terrelle Pryor 5 games over free tattoos. In college.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 24, 2014
It's a good thing Ray Rice didn't hit his fiancé with the crown of his helmet. #NFL decision is stunning/disappointing.
— Robert Flores (@RoFloESPN) July 24, 2014
It's a good thing Ray Rice wasn't stoned when he knocked his wife out. He'd be in real trouble
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) July 24, 2014
NFL Network just referred to Ray Rice two-game suspension as "the iron fist of the NFL." It would be funny if it weren't so offensive.
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) July 24, 2014
