Ray Rice gets a joke of a suspension

[feltdizz]

This was his chance to show the world that he wasn't going to show preferential treatment to a white guy or star quarterback.

If true, 2 games for Ray Rice is shameful.

LOL... that doesn't make any damn sense and you know it.

[Flasteel]

LOL... that doesn't make any damn sense and you know it.

Other than this particular case, I don't believe I've ever pulled the race card on this forum or the trib. My opinion is not some knee-jerk response, nor is it the product of some warped anti-whitey agenda I believe exists.

To me the thinking behind Goodell's decision-making is pretty plain to see. How else can you explain the punishment dished out to Roethlisberger...especially in light of every other instance of player discipline he has handed down.

Roethlisberger's case remains the lone example of a player being disciplined with no arrest or charges. He had no prior history of legal trouble or allegations of inappropriate behavior (aside from perhaps being boorish). Yet he was suspended 3 times longer than Ray Rice. I would be interested in your thoughts on any other possible reasons.

The only white quarterbacks ever suspended by the NFL other than Ben have been Art Schlichter (1 year in 1983 and lifetime in 1986 for gambling) and Frank Filchock (lifetime for fixing the 1946 NFL Championship game). As a matter of fact, until Roethlisberger, no white player at any position was suspended by the NFL since Schlichter. In that time period between the two QBs, there were 14 other player suspensions...all involving black players. Goodell was responsible for 12 of those 14 suspensions and there was a wide-spread belief that he and the league were targeting black players because of those skewed numbers.

If you don't think that Goodell looked at Roethlisberger as a prime opportunity to show everyone that he could come down hard on a white player...especially a star quarterback, then I would question the amount of thought you have dedicated to the question.

My opinion is 100% speculation, but it none-the-less remains the most plausible explanation for such a ridiculous discrepancy...easily. To say this explanation makes no sense is equally ridiculous. Again, I am interested to hear your thoughts on how Roethlisberger got the hammer and Rice got the pillow.

[feltdizz]

Other than this particular case, I don't believe I've ever pulled the race card on this forum or the trib. My opinion is not some knee-jerk response, nor is it the product of some warped anti-whitey agenda I believe exists.

To me the thinking behind Goodell's decision-making is pretty plain to see. How else can you explain the punishment dished out to Roethlisberger...especially in light of every other instance of player discipline he has handed down.

Roethlisberger's case remains the lone example of a player being disciplined with no arrest or charges. He had no prior history of legal trouble or allegations of inappropriate behavior (aside from perhaps being boorish). Yet he was suspended 3 times longer than Ray Rice. I would be interested in your thoughts on any other possible reasons.

The only white quarterbacks ever suspended by the NFL other than Ben have been Art Schlichter (1 year in 1983 and lifetime in 1986 for gambling) and Frank Filchock (lifetime for fixing the 1946 NFL Championship game). As a matter of fact, until Roethlisberger, no white player at any position was suspended by the NFL since Schlichter. In that time period between the two QBs, there were 14 other player suspensions...all involving black players. Goodell was responsible for 12 of those 14 suspensions and there was a wide-spread belief that he and the league were targeting black players because of those skewed numbers.

If you don't think that Goodell looked at Roethlisberger as a prime opportunity to show everyone that he could come down hard on a white player...especially a star quarterback, then I would question the amount of thought you have dedicated to the question.

My opinion is 100% speculation, but it none-the-less remains the most plausible explanation for such a ridiculous discrepancy...easily. To say this explanation makes no sense is equally ridiculous. Again, I am interested to hear your thoughts on how Roethlisberger got the hammer and Rice got the pillow.

2 sexual assault accusations in a year and a FO that wanted to scare Ben straight.

[Flasteel]

2 sexual assault accusations in a year and a FO that wanted to scare Ben straight.

Compare the two situations. Look at the credibility of the accusers and the facts in Roethlisberger's case, then immediately follow that analysis with a viewing of the Rice video tape. You tell me which one deserves 6 games and which one should get 2. Compare Ben's case with any other suspension in the history of the league and tell us how you don't see an obvious incongruity.

[feltdizz]

Compare the two situations. Look at the credibility of the accusers and the facts in Roethlisberger's case, then immediately follow that analysis with a viewing of the Rice video tape. You tell me which one deserves 6 games and which one should get 2. Compare Ben's case with any other suspension in the history of the league and tell us how you don't see an obvious incongruity.

Ben served 4 games and we didn't get to see the tape from the GA incident because the tape was lost/destroyed.

You guys are going to shorten your lives with this faux outrage over other players getting suspensions that aren't as harsh as Ben's. The Rooneys wanted Ben punished. Instead of writing letters to Goodell, fans should write the Rooneys because they are the reason Ben was given a swift ruling by Goodell.

[Slapstick]

Ben served 4 games and we didn't get to see the tape from the GA incident because the tape was lost/destroyed.

You guys are going to shorten your lives with this faux outrage over other players getting suspensions that aren't as harsh as Ben's. The Rooneys wanted Ben punished. Instead of writing letters to Goodell, fans should write the Rooneys because they are the reason Ben was given a swift ruling by Goodell.

It's not faux outrage and you are a better poster than that...

The fact that Dan Rooney supposedly "wanted" a harsh punishment for Ben doesn't mean that Rice should punch his wife with impunity, which is okay with Roger, it seems...

[feltdizz]

It's not faux outrage and you are a better poster than that...

The fact that Dan Rooney supposedly "wanted" a harsh punishment for Ben doesn't mean that Rice should punch his wife with impunity, which is okay with Roger, it seems...

wait, what, huh? 2 games = no punishment?

How many games did JH miss due to breaking down a door and smacking his baby's mother?

The problem is Ben's 4 game suspension is viewed as a lifetime ban and Rice's 2 games are viewed as impunity.

Thus... FAUX OUTRAGE!!

[Captain Lemming]

Compare the two situations. Look at the credibility of the accusers and the facts in Roethlisberger's case, then immediately follow that analysis with a viewing of the Rice video tape. You tell me which one deserves 6 games and which one should get 2. Compare Ben's case with any other suspension in the history of the league and tell us how you don't see an obvious incongruity.

The problem is that you are looking at this as two cases.
The softness of rices penalty is inconsistent with EVERY CASE. Never mind Ben.
Is smoking dope worse than punching a woman?

Thus the outrage from all corners.

I can indeed compare Ben to every other case and know how it happened. Goodell is concerned with "perceptions" not justice. Nothing to do with race.

Rice is the exception not the rule. Rice is inconsistent with his ENTIRE track record.

Now "I" am going to take a POV I have never taken and have argued against.

Many have accused Goodell of having a soft spot for the Ravens. For the first time I believe it.

[Flasteel]

The problem is that you are looking at this as two cases.
The softness of rices penalty is inconsistent with EVERY CASE. Never mind Ben.
Is smoking dope worse than punching a woman?

Thus the outrage from all corners.

I can indeed compare Ben to every other case and know how it happened. Goodell is concerned with "perceptions" not justice. Nothing to do with race.

Rice is the exception not the rule. Rice is inconsistent with his ENTIRE track record.

Now "I" am going to take a POV I have never taken and have argued against.

Many have accused Goodell of having a soft spot for the Ravens. For the first time I believe it.

I agree that Goodell is more concerned with perceptions than justice or what's good for the game. I wonder what his response will be to all of the public outrage regarding his latest decision.

As far as this case, my comments regarding Roethlisberger are removing the focus from where it should be...the ridiculous discipline for a very heinous act. I hope both Rice and Goodell are justly and widely criticized from coast to coast.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Is smoking dope worse than punching a woman?

You can't compare this case to the drug policy (either recreational or performance-enhancing). The drug policy is collectively bargained. Players know in advance what the penalties are for a first offense and for any subsequant offenses. I don't have a problem with the drug policy or how it's enforced at this point (other than the fact the league and the union both agreed to address HGH 3 years ago, but neither side has seeming made any progress toward actual Olympics-style testing, but that is an argument for another day).

While the drug policy is consistent, enforcement of the "personal conduct" policy is anything but consistent. It's entirely in one man's hands, and he has been known to waver dramatically based on public sentiment and how much negative publicity an incident garners.