{"id":2717,"date":"2016-07-24T21:00:06","date_gmt":"2016-07-25T01:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/?p=2717"},"modified":"2019-06-26T16:50:28","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T20:50:28","slug":"its-time-for-ray-rices-second-chance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sullyonsports.com\/?p=2717","title":{"rendered":"It’s Time for Ray Rice’s Second Chance"},"content":{"rendered":"
Photo Credit: Patrick Semansky\/Associated Press<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over two years ago, the NFL suspended then-Ravens running back Ray Rice\u00a0for a domestic violence incident that took place in Atlantic City, NJ. \u00a0At the time, many thought the suspension was egregiously lenient, a product of the league’s flawed and archaic attitude toward domestic violence. \u00a0In the wake of the Rice incident, the league tightened up its domestic violence policy, mandating<\/a> a six-game suspension for a first-time offense and a lifetime ban for a second offense. \u00a0The league seemed to be making legitimate progress toward mitigating a problem that had blighted its reputation for years.<\/p>\n

That was, until TMZ released the video.<\/p>\n

You don’t need me to tell you what “the video” refers to. \u00a0It became\u00a0one of the most infamous tapes to reach the public\u00a0in recent memory. \u00a0In it, Rice is seen punching his then-fiance Janay and subsequently dragging her out of an elevator at a local casino. \u00a0The video is so disturbing that I’m not even going to hyperlink to it; you can see it for yourself if you really want or need to. \u00a0It is, without exaggeration, one of the most repugnant acts you will ever see caught on camera. \u00a0Rice was immediately released by the Ravens, and no team has latched on to\u00a0him since the incident. \u00a0Rice may never again sign with an NFL team based on the events of that February 2014 night.<\/p>\n

And yet, even after all of this, I still think Rice has earned himself a second chance in the league. \u00a0Why hasn’t he gotten it yet?<\/p>\n

The short answer is rather simple. \u00a0Commissioner Roger Goodell basically made an example out of Rice in changing the league’s domestic violence policy in the wake of the incident. \u00a0Because of Goodell’s actions (such as suspending Rice indefinitely after the release of the tape), Rice essentially became radioactive to teams, even those in need of a running back. \u00a0By way of seeing the video and placing the violence in visual terms, many front offices deemed the risks of Rice’s employment greater than the benefits. \u00a0Your opinion of many things will change when you actually see them for yourself, and the Rice controversy was no different. \u00a0As a populace, we were already against Goodell’s initially lenient suspension. After\u00a0seeing the video, we were collectively appalled at the original punishment.<\/p>\n

But we have to go back to the NFL to know why Rice is still unemployed. \u00a0If Goodell had not arbitrarily levied the indefinite suspension, a team may have aimed to acquire the Rutgers product after the Ravens released him. \u00a0However, Goodell did what he has always done best: make things up as he goes along under the guise of “protecting the shield”. \u00a0It’s understandable that the league was in full-blown crisis mode in the wake of the video, and one can comprehend why it\u00a0would act this way. \u00a0But the NFL\u00a0had no right to punish Rice indefinitely, especially after\u00a0it handed down an initial suspension. \u00a0In November of that year, a judge overturned the league’s ruling<\/a> for that exact reason. \u00a0But the judge could not overturn the damage Goodell and the league did to Rice’s future.<\/p>\n

Let me say this: I don’t necessarily feel sorry for Ray Rice. \u00a0What he did was deplorable and set a horrible example for those who looked up to him as a role model. \u00a0 Even though the league’s reaction to the video was absurd, he really deserved whatever punishment he received.<\/p>\n

That being said, it has been surprising that no team has taken a chance on Rice in almost two years. This has to do with both his radioactive reputation and his ability, or lack thereof, to still play the game at a high level.<\/p>\n

For example, Rice rushed for over 1,000 yards for four seasons from 2009-2012, the last of which ending in a Super Bowl victory over the 49ers (blackout game, anyone?). \u00a0More importantly, he played in every game during that period and has never played fewer than 13 games in a season over the course of his six-year career. \u00a0His injury-riddled 2013 season was easily the worst of his career, as he only averaged 3.1 yards per carry and suffered\u00a0major\u00a0declines in almost every major statistical category. \u00a0The domestic incident occurred that next March. \u00a0The infamous video surfaced in September. And now we’re here.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, Rice has paid the price for his actions. \u00a0It’s a price that he absolutely deserved to pay and brought upon himself. \u00a0He has no one to blame but himself, and he earned his exile from the league. But can’t we reach a point as a country and society where we can give someone a second chance? \u00a0Why haven’t we reached that point with Ray Rice?<\/p>\n

Consider this: for as bad as Rice’s actions were, he was (and still is) a first-time offender. \u00a0It’s none of our business what happened between he and his fiance that night, but to our knowledge, he has not engaged in any other violent actions involving women\u00a0since then. \u00a0Also, Rice has seemingly been a perfect citizen since that night, engaging in counseling and seemingly bettering himself<\/a>\u00a0in the process.<\/p>\n

What’s worse, though, is that other perpetrators of domestic violence have received second chances before Rice. \u00a0For example, defensive end Greg Hardy was signed by the Dallas Cowboys last season. \u00a0Hardy was suspended by the league for threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend<\/a> just two months after Rice’s incident; he repeatedly showed no remorse<\/a> for his transgressions. \u00a0Rice has done the opposite, apologizing for his actions on multiple occasions and taking the steps necessary to improve himself in the process. \u00a0If Hardy, a\u00a0seemingly terrible\u00a0human being, can get a chance before Rice, what does that say about the current state of affairs in the NFL?<\/p>\n

Rice has more than served his punishment for his actions. \u00a0He seems to have learned from them, though: he says he’ll donate his salary to domestic violence charities<\/a> if he plays in 2016. \u00a0There’s this to consider, too: he’s only 29 years old. \u00a0With two full years off, he may be able to avoid hitting the wall most running backs crash into once they reach age 30. \u00a0We saw what happened last season\u00a0after Adrian Peterson was forced to\u00a0miss a season after his own transgressions<\/a>: he came back to the league better than ever before and won a rushing title last season. \u00a0Rice may not be able to do that, but he should have something to give for a team that can properly utilize him in its backfield.<\/p>\n

Ray Rice has earned his second chance. \u00a0Whether or not he gets it, unfortunately, is a very different story.<\/p>\n