A tale of two players:
Everyone has been wondering when embattled Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon will meet with the NFL regarding his one-year suspension, and apparently a date has finally been set as Adam Schefter is now reporting that Gordon will meet with league officials in New York City on August 1.
According to multiple reports, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice will be suspended for two games for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy after he was caught on camera in an Atlantic City hotel carrying his unconscious fiancée out of an elevator, seemingly after a physical altercation.
Admittedly, Josh Gordon is not exactly a pillar of the community; he's previously served a four-game suspension for marijuana use, and while waiting for his hearing on the new charge, was arrested for DUI. And Rice is a first-time offender, has allegedly gone through anger management courses, and his then-fiancee (now wife) apologized for being knocked down.
Janay Rice sat next to her husband during the press conference and, curiously, also spoke, apologizing for her "role in that night" though simple assault charges against her were eventually dropped. Footage from the night showed Rice dragging his wife's unconscious body from an elevator.
People on
Twitter reacted:
Former players included:
Of course, for every indignant Tweet out there, 5 other people are worried more about the impact on their fantasy team.
But what does this incident, and the "penalty", tell players and fans -- smoking weed, which is not even a performance enhancing drug (unless you're in a competitive eating contest), gets you a year without pay, but beat up a woman and you just get a couple of games off at the beginning of the season, keeping you fresher for that stretch run.
And once again, sports are valued more than women. Enough to make me reconsider my NFL fandom.
Sigh...
1:24 PM PT: Please read this column by Mike Freeman; he gets it.
http://bleacherreport.com/...