JC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> THE Truth Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JC Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > THE Truth Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
>
> >
> >
> > Yes they did. But that wasn't a league
> > punishment. It was a team deciding to cut a
> > player. That happens every day.
>
>
> Hmmm I wonder what made them 'decide'. nah...must
> have been a just a coincidence.
lol...its no coincidence. The team had inside info on the case against him and decided he wasn't worth keeping around. But its not a punishment to get cut. You still get paid all of your guaranteed money and you are able to sign with another team right away, if there is a team that wants you.
>
>
>
> >
> > Again, its a criminal matter with Rice. The
> > league pre-judging the situation and handing out
> a
> > fine or penalty could impact the ability to get
> a
> > fair trial.
>
>
> I know it's a criminal matter, but it's also a
> team matter (or least it *should* be). Beating
> the crap out of one's girlfriend and dragging her
> unconscious body on the floor *should be* conduct
> unbecoming of a professional football
> player--separate from the criminal case. The team
> and/or league investigation should consist of
> looking at the video that everyone else in the
> world has already seen.
That's exactly why they wait. And why the team doesn't affect a punishment (suspension and/or fine) until the legal proceeding play out.
Guilty in the court of public opinion isn't guilty, at least until a jury says so.
It doesn't look like its the case with Rice, but what if he didn't do it? What kind of lawsuit would the team be facing if they acted on their own based on circumstantial evidence or inaccurate public info?
Look at the Duke Lacrosse Rape case. Everyone in the world thought they were guilty. Turns out the charges were all BS. How do you unring that bell if you jump the gun as an organization and fine/suspend someone?
>
> >
> > Look what they do with DWI's...they wait until
> > there is a verdict or a plea bargain. Then
> they
> > suspend. That way if the charges are dropped
> or
> > the player is found innocent they don't have to
> > try to "un-ring that bell."
>
> And a DWI can more questionable components than
> the video of Rice beating his girlfriend. Even if
> the police release the DWI arrest video...there's
> always the chance that a prescription medication
> interaction caused slurred speech or
> stumbling...the guy could have had a stroke....he
> could be hypoglycemic, etc. In those cases, yes
> investigate and maybe wait on the (lovely) court
> system we have.
Its all questionable. That's why you have the right to a trial where they have to prove you are guilty.
As for Rice, the only video I've seen is a blurry shot of elevator doors opening and a short balk male holding a woman who he helps to the ground. Never seen one that shows his face clearly or shows "him" hitting her.
If you are the Ravens, why would you want to be in the business of investigating the truth behind the story and then having to defend your findings after punishing the player?
Much better to let the DA handle it so you aren't interfering with their investigation or worse... influencing the outcome of a trial by publicly declaring his innocence or guilt before he has his day in court.
>
> But a video of a guy punching the crap out of his
> girlfriend....how does the team/league need to
> wait on the trial? They have the video. Of him
> punching her. If I'm in the league office or the
> team FO, here would be the extent of the
> investigation:
>
> Is that you? yes? Is that a woman that you're
> beating unconscious? Yes? Okay then. I've seen
> enough. You won't be collecting a paycheck from
> me for a long time.
Ok...what if the conversation is: "is that you?"...."no comment" or "no"?????
He's not going to confess to you if he didn't confess to the police.
No lawyer in the world would let him. He'd be facing jail time which is way worse than anything you can do to him as a team.
>
> Once again the above is separate from the criminal
> investigation and doesn't (IMO) pollute the
> judicial proceedings any more than Hernandez
> getting cut does.
>
> I mean the guy could claim in *court* that his
> girlfriend had a bunch of mosquitoes on her face
> and head, and that he was only punching her out of
> an act of chivalry, to kill the mosquitoes...that
> might work with the right jury, but if I'm his
> employer, I take immediate action after seeing
> that video.
Which video?
Its going to have to be irrefutable evidence because his new wife ain't talking about it.
>
>
> >
> > I bet its part of the CBA that they have to
> wait
> > on criminal issues for the court proceedings to
> be
> > finalized.
>
>
> That's probably correct. I suppose the team would
> have had to implement a "no beating up your
> girlfriend" policy, then would have been able to
> discipline him under violating Team Policy.
I get where yo are coming from JC. It seems like common sense. But I'm sure the league and the teams want nothing to do with punishing a player by suspending them and taking away money unless they know its a decision they won't have to defend or litigate.
That's why its in the CBA. They layoff until the courts decide. Then they act, assuming the player wasn't released by his team before that.