Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has received a two-game suspension from the NFL. And the chorus in the football world was: “That’s it?”
Rice allegedly punched then-fiancée Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City casino in February. Video captured by a surveillance camera shows Rice dragging the unconscious Palmer out of an elevator. The two were married earlier this year.
Rice pleaded not guilty to an aggravated assault charge and avoided trial after being accepted into a pretrial intervention program.
“It is disappointing that I will not be with my teammates for the first two games of the season, but that’s my fault,” Rice said in a statement issued by the Ravens. “As I said earlier, I failed in many ways. But, Janay and I have learned from this. We have become better as a couple and as parents. I am better because of everything we have experienced since that night. The counseling has helped tremendously.”
The three-time Pro Bowler will miss two weeks’ pay and will be fined an additional game check. According to ESPN, Rice is paid $235,294 per week during the regular season.
Rice’s suspension will begin on Aug. 30. Rice will miss the season opener against AFC North champion Cincinnati on Sept. 7 and the Sept. 11 game on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rice may participate in all aspects of training camp and preseason games.
In a letter to Rice, Commissioner Roger Goodell said, in part: “As you acknowledged during our meeting, your conduct was unquestionably inconsistent with league polices and the standard of behavior required of everyone who is part of the NFL. … We simply cannot tolerate conduct that endangers others or reflects negatively on our game. This is particularly true with respect to domestic violence and other forms of violence against women.”
Coach John Harbaugh spoke for the Rice defense Thursday. “I stand behind Ray. He’s a heck of a guy,” Harbaugh said, according to ESPN. “He’s done everything right since [the incident]. He makes a mistake, all right? He’s going to have to pay a consequence.”
There was a quick and decisive backlash on social media to what was seen by some as lenient punishment — especially in the context of a disciplinarian league that suspends players for a minimum of four games for using marijuana. Here is a sample of the Twitter outrage: