There has been much controversy about the two-game suspension the NFL handed to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice last week. Rice was caught on a security camera in February pulling his fiancée, Janay Palmer (now his wife, Janay Rice), unconscious from an elevator. He was charged with aggravated assault.
“The League is an entity that depends on integrity and in the confidence of the public, we simply cannot tolerate conduct that endangers others or reflects negatively on our game,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Baltimore Ravens fans have been kind hearted toward Rice. During an open practice at M&T Bank Stadium, rice got a huge standing ovation. The Pro Bowl running back reportedly drew a fan reaction of 28,000 fans screaming his name. Rice then acknowledge the crowd by tapping his chest twice and then pointing into the stands. Rice’s No. 27 jersey was also prevalent in the crowd, worn by both males and females. One female fan said she still supports Rice, who was noted for his charity work prior to his arrest.
“I have on number 27 to show the fans, and the world, that I am supportive of Ray Rice,” said Jerra Byrd who is a Baltimore native. “He has been forgiven by his wife. He is moving on with his life. He didn’t ask for the two game suspension.”
Ndamukong Suh, who is an all pro defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, was caught in the stomping scandal of a player in 2011 on Thanksgiving Day. Detroit Lions fans cheered as Suh was ejected from the game and later fined $25,000. A few games later, Suh was again fined again by the NFL for kicking quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin.
New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick filed his plea agreement in August 2007 in federal court admitting to conspiracy in a dog fighting ring and agreeing that the enterprise included killing pit bulls and gambling. Vick denied making side bets on the fights, but admitted to bankrolling them.
“Your career, freedom and your public standing are now in the most serious jeopardy. I hope that you will be able to learn from this past experience and emerge from it better prepared to act responsibly and to make the kinds of choices that are expected of a conscientious and law abiding citizen,” Goodell tells Vick in a letter before suspending him indefinitely.
Former vice president at ESPN Roxanne Jones expresses her furry about Rice’s and Vick’s suspensions not adding up to her liking.
“From what it sounds like that Mr. Goodell thinks dogs are more important that women,” said Jones.
Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, who raised the issue of whether Rice’s wife somehow brought an “element of provocation” into the situation on his show “First Take” that airs every morning on ESPN. Unfortunately for his comments, Smith was suspended for a week by ESPN.
On the other hand Vick still receives negative attention from what happened in 2007. Vick switching teams this year did not make it any better knowing that the NY Jets fans did not want Vick at all, a lot of those fans went to social media to express their displeasure.
“Jets fans, football fans, and sports fans want nothing to do with criminals who abuse animals, Boycott the NY Jets and Michael Vick,” wrote Alan Kessler, a Long Island police officer. “I was a proud New York Jets fan, always have been, but this was an easy decision. Michael Vick has no place in football. He disgusts me.”
Kessler’s Facebook page got almost 5K likes in about 2 days, generating about 13 posts about Vick and his feelings about the new quarterback. Other fans have expressed anger on the Jets twitter and Facebook pages.
“He electrocuted dogs in a bathtub for fun. I’m supposed to root for this guy,” wrote Ryan Breslin on the Jets Facebook page. “As ashamed as I’ve ever been to be a Jets fan and that’s saying something.”
PETA also expressed their disappointment with the Jets on singing Vick.
“Michael Vick can’t make a football cower and shake, and he can’t drown, electrocute, hang, or shoot it so that’s the good news. But no decent human being would be able to hold his or her head up in public after doing all that to “man’s best friend.”
Vick is not the only athlete to make a mistake and be shunned by fans. Two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of sexual assault for the second time in 2010. Mike Feinberg Company, a novelty store in Pittsburg that sells Steelers merchandise, marked down frame pictures of the quarterback after his scandal from $30 to $10. They have only sold one since.
Pittsburg-based Big Ben Beef Jerky also announced the ending of the contract with the quarterback.
