Rice Suspension Overturned

[wilwhite]

First, happy to see Hubris Goodell find out he's something less than omnipotent. Two games was ridiculously light; indefinite suspension was ridiculously heavy. Two penalties is illegitimate anyway. Maybe he thought they'd average out?

Second - in 2013 Rice played poorly both before and after his injury. He's only 27. Some baggage of course, but the heat has died down, and he paid a penalty that to some may have been more than he deserved, and to others could never have been enough.

Will any team try him out? If he can't play at close to his old level, forget it anyway - as we've seen with Forsett and Gray and Crowell, there are too many usable RBs floating around the margins of the league to put up with extra trouble. But if he can play at his old level, will somebody sign him?

(Also, a sneaking suspicion the NFL orchestrated this getting released the Friday after Thanksgiving - the day you're guaranteed the fewest people are paying attention.)

 

[TREFF]

He'll get signed during the offseason somewhere, probably a one year veteran minimum with no guaranteed money. . Or at least not a penny more than dictated by the current rules. But if he's not up to what he was a couple years ago, I wouldn't be surprised to see him get cut during camp

 

[wilwhite]

A nice snippet from the judge's ruling:

I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated.

 

[TK21775]

I could see a playoff team taking a shot at him this season, if it means a win in the playoffs he might be worth the pr risk. Fans tend to forget everything as long as the team is winning

 

[TREFF]

The one thing that hits home with me, in speaking if the time between the 2 game suspension and the indefinite one. ..."...there were no new facts. .."

In other words. .you dipshits had the tape, saw the tape, and are lying your asses off in a sorry attempt of saving face with the general public.

 

[Chef99]

Could you imagine if the Vikings signed him?

 

[wilwhite]

Saw the tape or not, they could have seen the tape, and they knew what was on it anyway.

She also pointed out that Goodell told Rice that the new domestic violence policy wouldn't apply to him and his suspension would stay at two games.

 

[molsaniceman]

Free agent Ray Rice has won his appeal and will be reinstated to the NFL.
He's free to sign with any team. Unfortunately, finding a taker is an even bigger hurdle for Rice than winning his appeal, which was expected. A team interested in the declining 28-year-old (in January) would likely have to embrace a major public relations hit after Rice was suspended for socking his drunken then-fiancee in an elevator. Rice hasn't been effective on the field in quite some time. There's no guarantee he is still capable of helping a team.

 

[TKOSpikes]

Wouldn't shock me to see the Colts give him a late season shot.

 

[averagejoe]

Pros: He may use the opportunity to show an NFL team that he has something to prove.
Cons: Started breaking down in 2013. 660 yards in 15 games. 3.1 ypc (worst of his career).

And the way this season has gone for all RB, it wouldn't shock me if he gets a shot. Also wouldn't shock me to see him fail miserably. Or bust out like it was 2011, and then get seriously hurt. Not that Im hoping for either. But that's the way the season has trended.

 

[Chef99]

Haven't read every detail, but the judge's statement about Rice being upfront with Goodell from day one was dead on.

Curious...can he sue the NFL for lost wages or anything like that? I doubt he would, but I wonder if he has that option.

 

[wilwhite]

First up is something like a wrongful termination suit against the Ravens. If he can show they fired him when the video came out, after already knowing what would be on the video, they'll probably have to pay up (a quiet settlement is almost a certainty). Sure, a team can release a player without stating the reason - but if the reason can be established and it's bogus, he can win. He's got a ridiculously solid case.

They could also make up and bring him back, and skip whatever settlement in light of something nice in the new contract.