Ray Rice's Meaningless Suspension.

Ray Rice is not a good man. He is shown on video knocking his then-girlfriend, now fiance, unconscious with his own fist. Not once all summer did the National Football League media call Rice a 'distraction' to the Ravens, the new favorite buzzword for the National Football League. Johnny Manziel parties too much therefore he is a distraction. Michael Sam is a homosexual thus a distraction. But Rice beats the living hell out of his significant other, and yet somehow he isn't a part of this new distraction-based fraternity. The NFL has a serious problem on their hands, and it is unclear how they can fix it. 

NFL decided to suspend Rice a mere two games. That's all. Two out of the 16 games meaning Rice will be suspended for only 12.5 percent of the season. Ben Roethlisberger and Pacman Jones were both suspended more games for being accused of doing something versus actually getting charged with a crime. NFL is suspending players for more games when it comes to smoking marijuana versus clear and present domestic violence abuse. That's the thing about this whole Rice ordeal, this isn't a 'He said, she said' debate with a domestic violence dispute rather a video of  him actually doing it. It makes little to none sense why the NFL decided two games was the proper punishment. 

I called for a half-year suspension a couple months ago because it fit the crime. He violated the personal conduct policy which drew a six-game suspension with Roethlisberger then adding a two games for the disgusting nature of the violation. Two games is nothing. That's a simple brush off the shoulder. And it sends a message that domestic violence is okay with their players. They could drag their wives across a hotel floor and only get suspended for 12.5 percent of the season. If they suspended him for half the season taking away his pay and his livelihood, NFL presents a clear message that this cannot be tolerated in the sport. Instead, Roger Goodell now needs to answer a boatload of questions regarding women and football. 

Scarborough Research shows 45 percent of the football fans are women. 33 percent of the viewing audience is women. That's a major chunk of their fanbase. They need to tread lightly here in this situation. NFL now has a Public Relations disaster on their hands. NFL needs to find a way to fix things even if that task is likely impossible at this point. Adam Hatlak, a SnoTap contributor, mentioned to me 'I wish they wouldn't have suspended versus just giving him two games.'  Adam has a point. If you're going to be tone deaf about the ordeal, do nothing rather than give him a couple meaningless games off that will not even affect the Baltimore Ravens in the long run. NFL thought they were showing awareness by giving Rice a couple games. 

I have no idea how the NFL recovers from the entire issue with Rice. People in the media and around the NFL will act like nothing happened by October when the NFL supposedly honors women by wearing pink. 

Novel idea.  

Charlie.

Why NFL's Breast Cancer Movement & Domestic Violence Problems Don't Mix

Every October, the National Football League has a program where the players all wear pink covering their gloves, cleats, towels and the refs wore pink hats. It is all for Breast Cancer. Many people have opinions on it ranging from the NFL goes over the top in an attempt to sell more stuff and monetize the whole situation from it is a really nice gesture from the NFL.  But let's remember a report came out last year stating only eight percent of the proceeds to go to the American Cancer Society. 

As I saw the quotes from Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, I realized he would probably be wearing pink at some point. The guy beating up his wife, someone whom could get diagnosed with breast cancer as anyone including Rice could get the cancer, will be showing his support for women. Is it time for the NFL to end the pink movement until they admit their players have a problem with women and domestic violence?  

Hopefully, no one forgets how bad Rice's press conference was from the player perspective and the team's prespective. They did intentionally on Memorial Day Friday so many people would completely forget about Rice and his transgressions. The fact he made his wife apologize for getting dragged through an Atlantic City casino is pathetic and sickening including a tone deaf response by Baltimore's social media team whom I assume are all out of jobs today.  Dan Patrick has "Best and Worst's" of the week every Monday and with this being the first day of the work week, not one person has mentioned Rice's terrible press conference. Sports On Earth Tomas Rios does point out why this is a problem for the NFL and the Ravens nailing it in every facet.  With how Rice handled this whole situation, he will probably be covered in pink supporting women when he is one of the worst humans in sports.  

Rice isn't the only one. He will probably only get a three-game suspension, but it would be great if the NFL suspended him for half the season admitting to their problem with women. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was accused for domestic violence in May where he apparently threw his girlfriend on a heavy array of 25-30 guns claiming he would kill her if she talked to the media. Now Hardy handed over his guns only to have 10 of them, but the 10 were stuff you would see in Call of Duty, not a normal home owner. Hardy will probably be covered in pink from head to toe. Now, Hardy could be innocent, but watching him being covered in pink-related gear seems tone deaf as well. 

What about Ka'Deem Carey?  He isn't in the league yet, but the Chicago Bears drafted him in the fourth round with a story about him beating up his pregnant girlfriend. Granted, the charges were dropped but he still carried around that reputation. Carey didn't get drafted higher because of his 40 time, not his attitude towards women. Now, the charges were dropped, but usually, they say with cases like these in falls somewhere in the middle of both of their stories. He will rock pink too probably and no one will really move a muscle. 

The NFL cannot ban a player from wearing pink, but it would be nice if they suggest to those players to maybe avoid it. But the NFL will not because they don't seem to care about women. If I were a woman football fan, I would be wondering why I support the shield with buying tickets, jerseys, etc when they don't seem to care about the opposite sex whom has way more fans than the dumb jock stereotype gives it credit for.  

Hopefully, one day in sports people like Rice's wife will get justice, but right now, the NFL continues its ignorance with its attitude towards women.

Charlie.