Ray Lewis on Ray Rice

[vintagetoppsguy]

I'm surprised Aaron Hernandez isn't out while awaiting trial and playing for the Patriots.

[itjclarke]

If I remember correctly, there were some really really odd circumstances surrounding the Dante Stallworth manslaughter. I'll google it later, but think there was a guy wandering on a 4-5 lane freeway at like 2am and he walked in front of Stallworth's car. I think it was maybe even suspected as a possible suicide... however, pretty sure Stallworth had been drinking.

CLARIFICATION- according to Wiki, the accident actually happened at 7:15am and was the morning following a night of drinking for Stallworth. The victim was walking on a the roadway of a causway, not the sidewalk. Stallworth apparently tried to warn him by flashing his lights, but some how still ended up hitting him. According to lawyers, he probably could have fought the case successfully, but chose not to and accepted the charges.

Leonard Little still owns the DUI category. Early in his career while driving drunk, he kills a young mother and gets suspended 8 games (very weak). Afterward he apologizes, says all the right things, proclaims he is a new man... then goes out and gets another DUI.

Re- current Rice situation, the one positive is seeing Goodell squirm. He's clearly felt untouchable/invincible throughout his reign but I think it's now setting in- his $44M/year dream job may no longer be a lifetime position.

Re- the video, I agree with an earlier post 100%- the tape didn't change the facts, yet it is amazing how much public perception and NFL/team reaction (wholly based on public outcry) changed with its public release. What had they thought happened???? These things are terrible whether there's video or not.

That said, I 100% believe the NFL had this video and whether Goodell saw it or not, he's dug himself a huge hole by stating that to his knowledge no one in the NFL saw it. Either he's lying, or is grossly negligent for not knowing this tape, which apparently was the difference between a 2 game vs an indefinite suspension, was in his NFL office.

I also don't think "law enforcement" liked being thrown under the bus for allegedly not supplying Goodell with this tape. In his CBS interview, Goodell says he requested it several times, but was denied, and that he relied on "law enforcement" to get him needed evidence. Less than 24 hrs after these comments, a "law enforcement" official notified the press that the NFL had been given this tape 5 mths ago and even presented a VM from an NFL employee saying "thanks" for the tape and saying how "bad" the new footage looked.

[HRBAKER]

It all has an oddly Nixonian smell to it.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

That said, I 100% believe the NFL had this video and whether Goodell saw it or not, he's dug himself a huge hole by stating that to his knowledge no one in the NFL saw it. Either he's lying, or is grossly negligent...

Probably both - he is, after all, an NFL executive.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

I'm surprised Aaron Hernandez isn't out while awaiting trial and playing for the Patriots.

He wouldn't be playing for them. He was released roughly 90 minutes after being taken into custody, before the charges were even made public. And he'd been banned from the stadium 6 days before that.

He was subject to waivers and went unclaimed.
Then Goodell said he wouldn't approve any contract until his case was settled.

A cynical person might say that the Pats cut him because it voided his 015-018 salaries around 19.3 million and let them withhold a 3.25 million signing bonus payment. (They're also trying to recoup the already paid portion of his signing bonus. ) But then, they also take the salary cap hit sooner by cutting him.

From everything that I've seen I'll be very surprised if he's available for football anytime soon.

Steve B

[clydepepper]

Condalisa Rice, NFL Commissioner?


We could do a lot worse.