New video released of Ray Rice

[Rich]

He was arrested for battery, if I'm not mistaken.

But he got a plea deal and is in pre-trial intervention. From what I read, the DA was going to have a difficult time winning an outright battery case because she supposedly spit on him before he punched her... and I believe spitting is also considered assault. Not to mention she married the dude and now is not obligated to testify.

[Phishfan]

Not to mention she married the dude and now is not obligated to testify.

When the spouse is the victim of the crime this protection goes away in many places. From my quick research New Jersey is one of those so they could have forced her to testify.

The spousal testimonial privilege of N.J.R.E. 501(2), codified in N.J.S.A. 2A:84A-17(2), precludes the spouse “of the accused in a criminal action” from testifying in such action “except to prove the fact of marriage.” In creating this prohibition, the Legislature recognized only three specifically enumerated exceptions:

    (a) [when the] spouse or partner consents, or (b) [a case in which] the accused is charged with an offense against the spouse or partner, a child of the accused or of the spouse, or a child to whom the accused or the spouse or partner stands in the place of a parent, or (c) [a case in which] such spouse or partner is the complainant.

http://www.kostrolaw.com/NJFamilyIssues/2010/09/08/the-spousal-testimonial-privilege-precludes-the-spouse-of-the-accused-in-a-criminal-action-from-testifying-in-such-action-except-to-prove-the-fact-of-marriage/

[Rich]

Yeah, except that she didn't want to press charges to begin with...

[Buddhagirl]

Just gonna leave this right here: http://deadspin.com/report-nfl-had-copy-of-ray-rice-tape-1633159819/all

[Rich]

Just gonna leave this right here: http://deadspin.com/report-nfl-had-copy-of-ray-rice-tape-1633159819/all

Hmmm.... game changer?

[Buddhagirl]

Hmmm.... game changer?

Yup...and I absolutely think the NFL tried to cover this shit up. The NFL might not give a shit about Ray Rice, but they give even fewer shits about women. The only reason he was fired and suspended indefinitely was because they were looking bad with this shit.

[MikeO]

Why doesn't Goodell and the NFL powers that be hire TED WELLS and do an investigation of who knew about the video and when.

I mean they investigated a 300lb offensive linemen crying about being picked on but a woman gets punched and the NFL covers it up and no outside investigation?

Little odd

[MikeO]

Somebody must have heard me. It's not Ted Wells but the NFL hired an independent investigator

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24704905/nfl-ex-fbi-director-robert-mueller-will-investigate-ray-rice-situation

[dolphins4life]

THIS.

He could've easily fended her off, but decided to punch her out. I think she was knocked out by hitting her head on the wall. Like I said earlier, his handling of her after that was awful as well.

Gotta give my thoughts on this situation
 
According to self defense laws, a person must use no more force than appears reasonably necessary in the circumstances.

I think from a legal standpoint his actions definitely crossed that line.
 
I can't fathom why she married him anyway.  Boggles my mind

[Cathal]

^^^ The money.

[Rich]

I can't fathom why she married him anyway.  Boggles my mind

It's pretty simple.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Dave Gray]

I mean they investigated a 300lb offensive linemen crying about being picked on but a woman gets punched and the NFL covers it up and no outside investigation?

Little odd

I want to chime in here.  You can't really compare those situations.  I'm going to sound like a callous dick, but the bullying scandal should be a bigger deal to the NFL because it's directly their responsibility to protect the livelihood of their employees.  It's the very purpose of the league.

In this instance, it is not the NFL's job to protect women from getting punched during their own private moments.  It's just not.  That's the N.O.W.'s job.  The NFL is there to protect its brand image and the interests of its owners.  This Ray Rice thing is bad for business.  But the NFL is a body that governs football.  It's not an organization meant to protect battered women.

This only becomes the NFL business because it's on tape and hurts their brand.  Otherwise, why is a football organization investigating the private matters of a married couple?  The fact that Goodell might have to resign is so dumb.  Someone is going to have to fall on the fire, I guess.

PS - Ray Rice is a total scum bag.  But so is his wife.  I'm not defending what he did.  But if she really does spit in his face, that's not battered women syndrome.  That's spitting in someone's face and getting knocked the fuck out syndrome.  He shouldn't have done it, and he should likely be in jail.  But that's why we have a justice system.  I don't know why anyone is looking to the NFL to be the moral compass here.

[Rich]

The NFL is there to protect its brand image and the interests of its owners.

That is 100% correct.

[Phishfan]

I want to chime in here.  You can't really compare those situations.  I'm going to sound like a callous dick, but the bullying scandal should be a bigger deal to the NFL because it's directly their responsibility to protect the livelihood of their employees.  It's the very purpose of the league.

In this instance, it is not the NFL's job to protect women from getting punched during their own private moments.  It's just not.  That's the N.O.W.'s job.  The NFL is there to protect its brand image and the interests of its owners.  This Ray Rice thing is bad for business.  But the NFL is a body that governs football.  It's not an organization meant to protect battered women.

This only becomes the NFL business because it's on tape and hurts their brand.  Otherwise, why is a football organization investigating the private matters of a married couple?  The fact that Goodell might have to resign is so dumb.  Someone is going to have to fall on the fire, I guess.

PS - Ray Rice is a total scum bag.  But so is his wife.  I'm not defending what he did.  But if she really does spit in his face, that's not battered women syndrome.  That's spitting in someone's face and getting knocked the fuck out syndrome.  He shouldn't have done it, and he should likely be in jail.  But that's why we have a justice system.  I don't know why anyone is looking to the NFL to be the moral compass here.

You don't sound like a dick but you sound off base. The investigation is not about the private matters of a married couple. The investigation is about if the NFL lied and covered up a PR nightmare. Completely different things.

[Brian Fein]

I don't understand what the NFL has to gain to "cover up" anything.  Its one player out of 1700.  Who cares?  There are plenty more to be disciplined as well.

But the bigger deal to me is that Rice isn't in jail.  I would imagine that battery is illegal, especially of the domestic variety.  But, as Dave said, its not the NFL's job or Roger Goodell's job, to determine if Ray Rice is guilty.  He's just supposed to hand out discipline to try to encourage his players to be model citizens.  He did exactly that.  Because some people disagreed with the harshness of the original discipline doesn't mean that he needs to lose his job.

This whole story is getting blown out or proportion and its starting to annoy me.