The last couple of days have been a whirlwind for us here at Russell Street Report and you all know why.
I’ve heard from many of you, good, bad and somewhat indifferent. I’ve been criticized for defending Ray Rice previously and now for being critical of him. I don’t see it as wavering or as piling on. For me it’s all about following the evidence.
Reasonable doubt!
Innocent until proven guilty!
It has been less than 48 hours since I was first made aware of Ray Rice Video II. There’s now no getting around his guilt and the team’s management did the right thing by letting the former Raven go.
Former Raven…
It seems a bit clumsy to refer to Ray Rice as a former Raven yet that is the sobering reality that has begun to sink in as we wrap our minds around the team’s decision to part ways with the former fan favorite.
We all knew that one day it was possible. That’s just the nature of the beast in the NFL, particularly for running backs. Even Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith left the Cowboys during the December of his career to join the Arizona Cardinals.
But Ray’s departure was obviously way too premature.
I looked forward to seeing him bounce back after his two-game suspension and respond positively to a subpar 2013. I had confidence that he would carry himself with grace and dignity while facing a very predictable onslaught of criticism, anger and hate directed his way. The fans of every single stadium he visited this season would have adopted a mob mentality upon his entrance. And I believed he would take that on with courage and conviction.
I believed he was remorseful. I believed he understood what was in store and that he possessed the intestinal fortitude to show that not only can a good person recover after making an egregious mistake but that he could also return to the good graces of the community and once again become a role model for children and a spokesperson against bullying.
Unfortunately that won’t happen, at least not anytime soon.
Unfortunately Ray Rice’s future is very uncertain.
Someone may eventually give Rice another chance, assuming league commissioner Roger Goodell one day softens his heart. But that also assumes there’s another team willing to take on a potential avalanche of fan disdain and backlash from activist groups without any guarantees of a desirable return from an aging running back with plenty of wear and tear.
If we are to believe the couple and accept that this assault in the elevator was in fact an isolated incident, what a dramatic price they will pay. One momentary lapse of reasoning heavily influenced by an overindulgence of alcohol has for the moment completely shattered their lives.
It might not be fair, but let’s be honest. The damage was self-inflicted.
Rice and his attorney have maintained that he acted in self-defense. The video told a different story. Even without the botched handling of the incident by the league and the Ravens wouldn’t we have ended up in the same place once the video surfaced?
The Ravens had no choice but to say goodbye. The smoking gun forced their hand.
It’s a sad situation really – on many levels.
Fortunately it is America’s M.O. to forgive. We only need to look at Michael Vick for proof and Vick wasn’t even close to being the model citizen in Atlanta that Rice has been in Baltimore.
Time has a way of healing things. I hope it is kind to the Rice Family. I hope it teaches them and that in time they grow together in such a loving and harmonious way that their lessons can be lessons for others.
If that happens, maybe one day we can again smile when we recall Ray’s accomplishments on the field; remember where we were during that 83-yard TD gallop against the Patriots in the 2010 Wild Card game or the infamous 4th and 29 conversion.
And maybe we’ll remember the hours and hours he spent fighting bullying instead of the 15 seconds when he became one.
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