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Ray Rice isn't signing with anyone. Nobody is touching him this year. By next year, he'll be 28, and several seasons removed from his last useful season. Pretty much every team is coming around to the fact that the running back position is one of the least important on the field - running backs naturally have a short shelf life. Nobody is going to be itching to give out a contract to a player with questionable abilities, at a position which is easily replaced, with the massive PR hit that would come along with the signing.
The comparisons to Vick's situation are ridiculous. First, Vick went to prison, so at the very least the teams signing him could make the "he's paid his due!" argument. Second, in the era of instant media saturation we now live in, that video of Rice decking his then-fiancee will have been seen by just about everyone. While everyone knows what Vick did, it's easier to ignore when media outlets can't re-run the video ad nauseum to remind you. Third, quarterback is easily the most important position on the field, and teams will go to great lengths to find a solution there. Fourth, prior to going to prison, Vick was seen as a once-in-a-generation ahtletic talent (even though he often struggled to put it all together). Ray Rice is merely a "good" running back who looked completely washed up last year. You can't compare the two situations.
Ray Rice isn't signing with anyone. Nobody is touching him this year. By next year, he'll be 28, and several seasons removed from his last useful season. Pretty much every team is coming around to the fact that the running back position is one of the least important on the field - running backs naturally have a short shelf life. Nobody is going to be itching to give out a contract to a player with questionable abilities, at a position which is easily replaced, with the massive PR hit that would come along with the signing.
The comparisons to Vick's situation are ridiculous. First, Vick went to prison, so at the very least the teams signing him could make the "he's paid his due!" argument. Second, in the era of instant media saturation we now live in, that video of Rice decking his then-fiancee will have been seen by just about everyone. While everyone knows what Vick did, it's easier to ignore when media outlets can't re-run the video ad nauseum to remind you. Third, quarterback is easily the most important position on the field, and teams will go to great lengths to find a solution there. Fourth, prior to going to prison, Vick was seen as a once-in-a-generation ahtletic talent (even though he often struggled to put it all together). Ray Rice is merely a "good" running back who looked completely washed up last year. You can't compare the two situations.
I agree that nobody is signing him this year. Even if the massive PR hit they would take wouldn't be enough, Goodell dropped that memo that any team that would want to sign him would have to meet with him first. Rice is a good(ish) back, but he's not worth that amount of hassle. I feel like next year could be a different story though. I am in no way saying that he is getting a starting job (out of the gate) or a big money contract (at all) because I don't see a scenario where he would get either.
I don't feel the comparison to Vick is ridiculous. They are very different situations, but I was bringing up Vick as someone who there was a large media uproar against with many predicting that his NFL career would be over due to the PR nightmare associated with signing him. To address your specific points, it does indeed appear that Rice is going to avoid prison time for the incident. This is why included the initial condition in my post that he would have to do a massive amount of image rehab between now and then. If he wants any chance of getting signed, he would have to be able to sell the idea that he is a changed man. If nothing else, people love a redemption story. Second, the era of instant media saturation argument is valid but it also works against you since the news cycle is so rapid now. Yes, many many people will see the video and will be duly horrified. Unfortunately, the attention span of the masses is horrible nowadays. Between now and next August, there will be a hundred more things to be instantly outraged about, so the anger against Rice will be dulled to the point where he isn't as toxic as he is at the present moment. The third and fourth points are very valid, but once again, I am not trying to open the door to the possibility of Rice coming back to a lucrative starting contract upon his return to the NFL. If you check the rosters of NFL teams, there are backs with far less talent than him occupying roster spots (Peyton Hillis popped into mind immediately. Sorry Quacker) right now. To say that no team will touch him even if he has calmed down the heat on him to a significant extent through his actions is a little much for me to accept.
Matt Ryan and Matt Bryant earned that win. The real prize goes to the offensive line. Saints didn't come close to creating any pressure on Ryan.
Both offenses played lights out. Both teams had a turnover in the redzone. Advantage for Atlanta was definitely having home field. This game would've played out the same way but with the Saints winning if it was in New Orleans. I can't hate the Dirty Turds for this loss.
I can, however, blame the D for only one sack and not much else pressure. The secondary, especially Patrick Robinson, were not their best, but anyone can complete a pass with 5+ seconds to throw every down. I don't want to blame Colston for the fumble. It was just horrible timing. Saints let Atlanta march down the field in under a minute TWICE at the end of each half for a field goal. They only ate up 30 seconds of play clock when we were up 27-24 with seven minutes to play. The list goes on and on.
I'm still not worried about the division. Carolina's D is still tough, but they are weaker this year. Tampa looks pretty awful. Saints should beat Atlanta at home.
Bottom line: As much misery as I was in after that game, the Saints only lost in overtime away to a pretty decent team.
With your 2015 first overall selection, the New York Giants select....
I hope they trade down and stock up. Waaaay too many holes in this team. Maybe they can draft a first rounder or two who won't spend the whole preseason with the training staff.
The Giants won't end up with the 1st overall pick. They'll find a way to screw it up and wind up in the 6-10 pick range. Having Washington and Dallas also pathetic in the same division guarantees a couple wins.
I'm thinking Oakland, Wash, or STL gets #1 overall.
Goodell's gonna end up falling because of this, the question is how long he holds out
I wouldn't have agreed with you Monday, but it just seems to be getting worse and worse for the NFL and the Ravens.
The problem is it's not getting worse for the NFL. No work stoppages possible for 7 years; revenue, fantasy, gambling, TV contracts at all time highs, the Buffalo motherfucking Bills are worth over $1B. Until the owners feel it in their little man purses, there's no need to change commissioners. And that's the tragedy. If the woman from the NFL who took the message regarding the video gets used as a scapegoat for this, I'm done with the NFL to include fantasy and pick em leagues. I'm nauseous about this whole fucking thing.
I doubt things are really going to change either, which is messed up. People just love to see someone get taken down a peg, even though nothing changes in the aftermath.
I am not nearly as angry as some of you, but I understand where that rage is coming from and I think it's valid. I would just like to see Goodell gone. If the NFL would have just suspended Rice for the year right away, all would be good. They mishandled this so bad, and it seems to me the only appropriate reaction would be to let go of the man in charge. Whether that happens or not, it won't really matter. The NFL isn't going anywhere regardless of who the commissioner is.
I can't wait to see Goodell testify before Congress over this. You know it's bound to happen. Gotta look good with elections around the corner and historic levels of inactivity, right? They'll be body-checking each other in the hallways to get in front of the cameras for that hearing.
I can't wait to see Goodell testify before Congress over this. You know it's bound to happen. Gotta look good with elections around the corner and historic levels of inactivity, right? They'll be body-checking each other in the hallways to get in front of the cameras for that hearing.
Major league sports get federal monopoly exemptions, but they also get Congressional oversight along with it. Same status that allows for things like baseball steroid hearings.
I don't know the specifics, but I know no charges were filed against Rice. Since it's considered case closed in the legal realm, does Congress still have the right to get involved?
It has nothing to do with the Ray Rice legal case or lack thereof, specifically. Congress grants major leagues the exclusive rights to be the major league in a particular sport, with one of the strings attached being that they can look into misdoings. I'd say that lying to cover up knowledge of a widespread video of a player KOing a woman falls under that category. On top of that, they can subpoena just about anyone they like as it is.
This is going to get a hell of a lot worse for Goodell before - if? - it gets better. Hope he thinks his coverup is worth losing his $44M/year job, because I think that's where this is heading.