[News] Eisenberg: Dubious Progress Made On Domestic Violence In NFL

[BR News]

Ray Rice should be upset that Greg Hardy is playing because it runs contrary to his message.

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[Ravenshine]

Hardy shows less remorse, less humility or dignity than Rice. At least Rice is making his experience worthwhile to his life and the NFL in general. Hardy is just some bully still playing football, still earning a large salary and sending the message it's ok to beat up women...what a wimp!

[Bob21043]

Hardly seems equitable - Rice apologizes, goes through rehab, outwardly admits his wrong doing and begs forgiveness and he's not even looked at by any team. Hardy almost seems to flaunt his actions and does not seem to show the least bit of remorse and yet is readily signed by a team. If Rice cannot get a job as a player, I agree he could/should be the NFL's poster child/spokesman for domestic violence - who knows better the cost than him?

[RavensFanThick&Thin]

Because we live in a world where hearing evil is ok but seeing it is too much to handle.

 

"John hit Susie." Ok...

 

Here's a video. OMG, that is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. He should suffer forever...

 

Amazing what visuals do to the Psyche.

 

I don't condone domestic violence, I just think anybody who calls for someone's head because they "saw" what happened but ignores what they "know" happened but did not see it, is a hypocrite in my mind. A lot of times it is closer to home than we want to believe (family, friends, co workers). And let's be honest, if we "saw" what every NFL player did in their spare time, the public calling for heads would cause a lot franchises to barely be able to field a team. These are coddled, entitled, egotistical athletes (not all, but a lot of the ones people love/love to hate in a respect kind of way) who are given a lot of resources to find trouble. These aren't choir boys. So essentially its a fight between public perception and how much a player has to offer. Unfortunately the video was too much in Rice's case and he is still paying for something that he in my mind has been made up for. we all make mistakes.

Edited November 10, 2015 by RavensFanThick&Thin

[Ravenshine]

Hardly seems equitable - Rice apologizes, goes through rehab, outwardly admits his wrong doing and begs forgiveness and he's not even looked at by any team. Hardly almost seems to flaunt his actions and does not seem to show the least bit of remorse and yet is readily signed by a team. If Rice cannot get a job as a player, I agree he could/should be the NFL's poster child/spokesman for domestic violence - who knows better the cost than him?

Yes, and I don't know the particulars or details...my hunch is lawyers, legal beauracracy, have much to do with the hesitancy this time around to bring strong restrictions on Hardy (such as Ray Rice obviously received). So it's so very true the hypocrisy of draping players in pink weeks at a time (as article mentioned), yet in contrast allowing domestic abuse to be this totally gray, in many ways, unchallenged territory. It will be interesting is Ray takes this further as a cause.

[MadStorkSociety]

So is the NFL the facilitator or the union?

[jpboechat]

The NFL just handled this wrongly. I think the video evidence helps to get the attention of people: look how one cared about Hardy's problem until now. The problem is that not every case has video evidence, and we should not just focus on the suspension and the fines: we should focus on the rehab. Take Josh Gordon who is on his 10th suspension or something, where's the progress? just being punished all the time is apparently not helping.

For me Rice is the example of someone who aknowledged his mistake and fought to be forgiven. He was already deeply sorry before the videos came out, and the leaked images just made things a lot worse.

[Ravenshine]

Ah who am I kidding on having the lofty ideals the NFL will take serious action on this? Wimps will be allowed to stay wimps all for the sake of $$$. And that's what those men who beat on women are...total wimps. I've never been a victim of DV myself...but obviously someone who has anger issues takes it out on someone weaker (most women are weaker than the average NFL player, physically speaking). Well, if you are a strong guy in NFL...and you get angry, why not do something more manly like find some big bulky guy and challenge him to a fight? At least then you are not a wimp. Makes sense right? You get to vent your anger issues on someone...your own size and strength, no shame in that.

On related subject, heard on radio in Oct that the NFL thought they broke a streak...that streak was : since 2009 each and every month a NFL player has been arrested for one reason or another. So, they 'thought' Sept 2015 saw no arrests in NFL and they made the happy announcement...only to be corrected on the matter because some player was arrested Sept 30th or around the end of month thus keeping the winning loser streak alive...if you follow my wording on that so, NFL has lots of cleaning up to do I doubt they'll ever do or figure out how.

[Raven_Don]

Sad to say...this game is all about what you can do for me... Hardy still has room to improve and produce stats on the field... Rice is considered to be on the decline and isn't worth the head ache or distraction... what's really sad is that Ray who made one bad decision under the influence hit his wife (which doesn't excuse him at all)... Hardy has shown a history and a propensity to respond with aggression but he gets redemption?? I think it's really sad how greed has the Cowboys selling their morals... guaranteed if Hardy had put his hands on Jerry's daughter it would be a different story... he wouldn't be as forgiven... until fans stand up and refuse to buy tickets as long as he's on the team... nothing will ever change... However Karma is the great equalizer... since he's been allowed to play... they haven't been able to win a game...

[The Greek]

hardy is poop

[thegooddoc456]

Hey, nobody forced the Ravens to dump Rice, heck there's nothing stopping them from picking him up right now. Stop crying because someone else decided to take a chance on Hardy.

[Bat-mite]

Hardy shows less remorse, less humility or dignity than Rice. At least Rice is making his experience worthwhile to his life and the NFL in general. Hardy is just some bully still playing football, still earning a large salary and sending the message it's ok to beat up women...what a wimp!

It's a sad mess, but it is all about the money.  The league claims a lot of virtue, but none of it is borne out.  And there is no fair play.  They are not willing to sacrifice the income to uphold virtue -- unless they will lose even more money by not upholding virtue.  And the rest of us keep supporting them like the mindless, entertainment-addicted puppies we are.

[balfan23]

It is clearly a situation where code of conduct is applied differently, based on your (perceived) value to a team. If you are skilled enough that your talent outweighs the negativity you as a player bring to a team - then you can still play. If not, then you don't. 

 

If the pictures had come out on Hardy's case, it may have delayed his inclusion on a pro team, but he'd eventually play, because he's viewed as having enough skill to outweigh his negative press. If Rice had the talent level of an AP, he'd be in the league playing right now. 

[MyRavenHaven]

On top of what has already been said in the comments, it sends the message that teams will turn a blind eye to your behavior as long as you can still produce on the field at a high level. Ray Rice was coming off a bad year (and his age) so it was easier for teams to think he wasn't worth the bad PR to pick him up unlike Hardy. Not only do I find DV repulsive, I find the NFL's attitude toward it repulsive. Not enough is being done to get the message out and curb this type of behavior. There should be a ZERO tolerance policy. If you are involved in DV, you are permanently barred from the NFL. That is the only way these guys are going to really think twice about their actions. What message is being sent out when a 10 game suspension gets appealed down to 4? What does that say to the NFL's female fans? I personally am totally disgusted by it.

[balfan23]

Hey, nobody forced the Ravens to dump Rice, heck there's nothing stopping them from picking him up right now. Stop crying because someone else decided to take a chance on Hardy.

Who's crying? What is being said in this article and by most posters is that the NFL isn't doing a very good job of standing behind domestic violence when a guy who is clearly guilty of the offense and who shows no remorse is on the field. 

[TSizzle00]

Hardy is only playing cause he is still a good player. Had Ray Rice had a great season before his incident he'd be on the team. Just like Adrian Peterson. As with everything in life, if people feel you have value then they will give you another chance.

[Bob21043]

So, if Rice can't play anymore (according to the NFL owners/coaches), have the NFL hire him as a DV spokesperson/director to help clean up the problem from within the NFL. He has the experience, and has lived through the consequences. He should be a mandatory speaker to the rookies entering the league each year.

[Ravenshine]

It's a sad mess, but it is all about the money.  The league claims a lot of virtue, but none of it is borne out.  And there is no fair play.  They are not willing to sacrifice the income to uphold virtue -- unless they will lose even more money by not upholding virtue.  And the rest of us keep supporting them like the mindless, entertainment-addicted puppies we are.

Very true...that's why I'm happy when we have class act players on our team (or just any team to lesser degree but still), or formerly (like Torrey who is no longer a Raven but always will be in a sense) these people help counter-balance out the players who feel entitled and invincible and are overall ego maniacs because they play sports and think that makes them above everyone.

[Militant X 1]

Hardly seems equitable - Rice apologizes, goes through rehab, outwardly admits his wrong doing and begs forgiveness and he's not even looked at by any team. Hardly almost seems to flaunt his actions and does not seem to show the least bit of remorse and yet is readily signed by a team. If Rice cannot get a job as a player, I agree he could/should be the NFL's poster child/spokesman for domestic violence - who knows better the cost than him?

 

It's a shame!

[reed20fence]

The reality is that Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have the clout that Bisciotti and the Ravens don't. Advertisers and sponsors and suite PSL holders pressured Bisciotti with threats of pulled revenue. Note the extensive explanations Bisciotti had to publish publicly and pay close attention to who he addresses his apologies to.

The situation is inverted with Jerry Jones. The Cowboys are such a large brand that he can simply dangle a huge waiting list of Good Ole Boys waiting for suites and advertisers trying to get the eyes of cowboys fans directed to their products and everyone goes quiet.

Money can talk, but it can also hush.

Edited November 10, 2015 by reed20fence

[steelraven]

If I'm Greg Hardy or Ray Rice I'm mad at the media and the NFL for not putting light on Johnny Maziel and suspending him for his domestic incident. The girl said on camera to the police that he hit her and she had bruises. All it took was for her to say don't do anything and he was released by the police without even being charge. This is the definition of hypocrisy. What good for the goose is good for the gander. But I guess Johnny's not a gander

[Arch Mage]

Others have talked about the "money." But one part of the "money" game that gets swept under the rug is very specific to the Ray Rice incident: Alcohol!

Is there anyone here who thinks that the fact that those two went through bottles of alcohol (bourbon was it? supplied by the casino?) that night had nothing to do with what happened?

The NFL, and sports in general, is married to the alcohol industry.  Anheuser-Busch is one of the league's largest sponsors, spending $149 million just on Super Bowl commercials from 2009-13, according to Adweek.  It is also a local sponsor of more than three-quarters of the 32 teams. In 2010, the NFL signed a sponsorship deal with Anheuser-Busch, worth $1.2 billion.

But why don't we hear about how alcohol played a part?  Could it also be that the sports TV gets so much of its sponsorship from alcohol industry too?

We allow this link between sports and alcohol to grow.  College sports are discussed in the same programs that have alcohol advertisements.  And now with teens watching to see the high school sports that are beginning to crop up nationally, the promoted linkages will get even worse.
A-B realizes there is a problem for them with domestic violence.  They don't want the causalities to get out.

Edited November 10, 2015 by Arch Mage

[ciro]

ray had had a tough season and his numbers had dropped right before the scandal came out, if he had better numbers or was the equivalent of adrian peterson another team would have taken him by now. if the decision was solely at harbough's discretion, regardless of how good a player, he would have been kicked out. Oz and bisciotti overruled harbough and said rice would stay. hardy, Roethlisberger, peterson are still around because people will overlook stuff if you win. look at penn state and the students and alumni's shameful behavior after the sandusky scandal broke!

[riseNConquer81]

Ray RIce should be upset Hardy is playing because Hardy actually IS the guy the NFL and the rest of America tried to pretend Ray Rice was.

[ravenwildman]

Simple fact: If Ray Rice had been a Cowboy, Patriot, or a Steeler, he would still be playing. Everybody can Poo-poo that all they want, but the evidence is clear especially after Hardy. There is no mixed message here, some teams are above the rules (and law, Brady in fed court proved that). GO RAVENS!

[Halshayeji]

I have not defended Ray Rice before now because I'm really pissed off at this nonsense! Rice didn't abuse his wife or threaten her in any way. She sure as hell wasn't afaraid of him in the elevator and wasn't afraid of him just days after. Ray made a horrible mistake and struck a woman! That woman is the mother of his child and the love of his life! Did he make a mistake? Of course he did! But look at at this guys resume..... Look at all the good he did before and after this stupid mistake...... Come on man! We are supposed to solve this not make it worse. If anything, this is so not fair to his wife or his daughter. Who's gonna support them and who's gonna provide for that family? Two wrongs don't make a right! So Janay Rice gets knocked out in an elevator, then gets robbed of her dignity as this goes public, then her loved one loses everything, then they go broke. The media and women righ advocates really got this one wrong..... Ray rices life got destroyed just for the NFL to learn a way around allowing these things to harm their image.

Greg Hardy should be in rehab as we speak. Based on his previous actions, he is a threat to any woman involved with him. He's still a multi millionaire. Teams are still drafting guys with checkerd pasts. Teams don't get punished and players still get to play. Who are the real victims here? Who's paying the price?

Greg Harry should have never been released by the Panthers until this case was resolved. The team should have been somewhat accountable. I'm not saying they should be blamed but held accountable to correct this horrible mistake! If a player becomes an alcoholic he should not be released until his team makes sure he does rehab! If a player commits murder, he stays on his team until the issue is resolved or the guy goes to jail. This system is so flawed in so many ways! And it's always a few that pay the price for the mistakes of the majority. Then teams that have media in their back pocket jump to the opportunity to help their team regardless of what off field crap their players get in.

Someone please respond if you feel I'm out of line. I just feel horrible because we have been lied to by the NFL over and over again. And the good ones always pay the price.

[EliteRavens]

Ray Rice deserves a second chance in the NFL.

[RavensBaltimore]

Ray RIce should be upset Hardy is playing because Hardy actually IS the guy the NFL and the rest of America tried to pretend Ray Rice was.

Exactly. The fact that people don't care about the facts and details, and they just lump Ray Rice in with people like Hardy, is sickening to me. The evidence suggests that Ray is a good person who made a horrible split second mistake.  Janay did/does not seem afraid of him at all, and it doesn't seem like he intended her to be. Hardy intentionally terrorized and assaulted someone. The NFL doesn't care because it's all the same as far as PR goes. The self righteous public doesn't care because it takes less effort to make yourself feel morally superior by criticizing someone else than it does to look into the facts, and all of these activists/rights groups don't care because they got to use Ray Rice as the perfect poster boy, thanks to the video. Don't get me wrong, it's a great cause that they're fighting for, but ignoring the facts and unfairly using/demonizing someone for any cause shows many people care about self righteous preaching more than they do about humanity.

[Crusader]

Ray Rice was a Baltimore Ravens player any place else he would have a second chance. You have to look at the NFL as a Mafia style dictatorship with the good old boys network in charge then everything makes sense. Either your in with Roger Goodell or your on the out.

[Barry S]

They speak of Greg Hardy what about Adrian Peterson who is also playing with a child abuse offense hanging over his head. If these players can play than Ray Rice should have another chance, as another posted she was not in the elevator cringing in fear which indicated that he had never struck her before. Ray made a one time mistake and openly admitted to it and is sorry for it, he deserves to at least be given a chance to play again!

Edited November 10, 2015 by Barry S