Just hours after damning videotape surfaced on Monday showing Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his wife, Janay Palmer in the side of the face, the NFL had no choice but to take swift action. The Ravens released Rice from his 5-year contract and the NFL then suspended him from playing in the league. While these steps were deemed necessary, for some critics and fans alike it was too little, too late. The NFL's commissioner Roger Goodell now finds himself sitting in a hail storm of controversy.
Back in July, after Rice's original 2 game suspension had been announced Goodell went on to reassure the media that this one incident had changed how the league would view domestic violence and future instances would be handled with stiffer penalties. That said, as the new season of NFL play officially kicked off this week there are two players still in the league facing domestic violence charges that have yet to even face a suspension let alone a harsher penalty.
This morning Goodell is being hit with backlash from all sides because while the league claims it never saw that video before yesterday, other people have. Ray Rice's attorney has seen it and individual members of the press have admitted to viewing it months ago, so it raises the question of whether or not Goodell even attempted to view the tape before dishing out that original suspension. It may not have been offered to the NFL commissioner, but isn't it his job to request all evidence regarding his players so that a fully informed decision can be made regarding punishment?
That seems to be the question on the tip of every sport's writers' tongue this morning with many believing that Roger Goodell may find himself in some serious hot water with the organization that he is supposed to be leading. Do you think that Goodell should suffer some consequences if he truly dropped the proverbial ball in this case? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
