Today the NFL dropped the fucking hammer on Ray Rice.  They showed the rest of the league, as well as the general public, that the NFL will NOT stand for domestic violence.  They suspended the Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for 2 games.  Wait.... 2 games?  Yup.  2 whole games.  Roger Goodell.... you're a piece of shit.

Now I'm not an idiot.  I know that Roger Goodell isn't the only person involved with the decision making process for fines and suspensions.  At least I hope not, because if he isn't consulting with anyone else and is coming up with these punishments on his own than I question his ability to run the league.  Don't get me wrong, I always thought the dude was an idiot, between attempting to extend the season to 18 games and moving a team to London, but this takes the cake.

For what seems like forever we have had to hear Roger Goodell up on his high horse talking about the standards for the league (well just the players, Colts owner Jim Irsay still hasn't been disciplined for his incident but that's a story for a different day) and then he gives a domestic abuse incident a slap of the wrist.  2 game suspension and a $58,000 fine is just that.  A slap on the wrist.

To be honest, I wouldn't even care if this was just how the NFL rolled.  But Goodell goes overboard with fines and suspension ALL THE TIME.  Here are just a few examples.

10/2006- Albert Haynesworth suspended 5 games for stomping on a lineman

6/2007- Tank Johnson suspended 8 games for possession of 6 firearms and violating probation,

4/2010- Ben Roethlisberger suspended 6 games for alleged sexual assault (charges were dropped).

Now I know those aren't choir boy charges, but my point is those are big suspensions.  And in some cases, such as Big Ben, there was no criminal charges and was really based solely on an accusation.  But I hear your argument.  So how about the 2011 season, when Oakland Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor was suspended for 5 games for NCAA violations.  Let that sink in for a minute.  NCAA violations.  As in college.  To be more specific, he traded memorabilia for some tattoos.  Something that any NFL player can do.  And he got 5 games!!!!  That would be like if you got suspended from your job because they found out you cheated on a history test in high school.

Also, kind of flying under the radar is the fine of 58k.  Is that a joke?  This is a league that fined Chad Ochocinco (sorry Chad you will always be Ocho to me) 25k for tweeting during a preseason game.  They also fined Ocho 30k for celebrating with a sombrero back in 2012.  So that tweet and celebration received in total around the same fine as using your girlfriend as a speed bag.  Seems fair.  Troy Polamalu was fined 10K for calling his wife during a game once to tell her he was okay after leaving the game due to an injury.  Wes Welker was fined 10K for wearing an unauthorized hat.  What a league.

So congratulations Roger, in a country with Gary Bettman and Bud Selig, you still managed to be the worst commish in the US.  Keep up the good work.  If Aaron Hernandez gets acquitted I look forward to his 3 game suspension next season.

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Big Country 

Thursday, July 24, 2014