Robert Kraft defends Roger Goodell: "The way he has handled this situation is excellent"

[BradyFTW!]

Question for the lawyers on this board (you dirty scumbags ): How does Ray Rice not have a legitimate legal complaint against the Ravens and the NFL for how it has handled his employment status? I'm not defending his crime, but he reportedly DID tell them precisely what happened in the elevator, and the league office DID hand down discipline. Nothing has changed except for the new video confirming what Rice supposedly told them.

According to Adam Schefter, he may have a legitimate legal complaint against the league, because punishing him twice for the same incident is against the terms of the CBA. I don't know if any of this is actually true, but I generally consider Schefter a reliable source, and he seemes to think that Goodell is basically just daring Rice and/or the NFLPA to try to take on this league and seem pro-wifebeater.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Apparently, you all think that the NFL should expand its security and have a fully developed police force, rather than rely on police.

There are many choices with regard to how the LEAGUE should prosecute crimes. Almost everyone here seems to think that the league was negligent because they didn't investigate more and better than the police did. After all, it seems that it is the responsibility of the LEAGUE to investigate and prosecute crimes that may have been perpetrated by its employees.

I do NOT find this approach reasonable or acceptable.

I do indeed think that Rice should have been given a stiffer sentence with the evidence that they had. Wife-beating should be more important than the use of pot. It would seem that this would take a change in NFL policy, which is likely underway.

Or they should recognize that they don't have one and stop acting as if they do. I'd actually prefer that.

 

[ATippett56]

According to Adam Schefter, he may have a legitimate legal complaint against the league, because punishing him twice for the same incident is against the terms of the CBA. I don't know if any of this is actually true, but I generally consider Schefter a reliable source, and he seemes to think that Goodell is basically just daring Rice and/or the NFLPA to try to take on this league and seem pro-wifebeater.

Which becomes a PR nightmare for Ray Rice and the NFLPA.

 

[mgteich]

Seriously. TMZ got the video. If the NFL couldn't, then they need to take that as a clear indication of how worthless their investigative skills are, and accordingly stop acting as judge, jury and executioner altogether.

Yes, indeed.

The league should primarily rely on the police for the investigation of crimes, and should add penalties when the player is found guilty, perhaps suspending him after the player is charged with a severe crime. The league can make its rules with regard to which convictions are subject to which penalties.
And yes, the league can even punish behavior that is not punishable by police. HOWEVER, this is a slippery slope unless these events directly affect the game itself (for example being drunk for a game).

Make no mistake. If he who cannot be named is found to be "not guilty", he would likely win a large law suit against the patriots for firing him before there was even an indictment.

The NFL is relatively free to act as prosecutor because of its contracts with players and teams. However, they must tread carefully when punishing crimes which have not been punished by the police.

 

[ATippett56]

Apparently, you all think that the NFL should expand its security and have a fully developed police force, rather than rely on police.

There are many choices with regard to how the LEAGUE should prosecute crimes. Almost everyone here seems to think that the league was negligent because they didn't investigate more and better than the police did. After all, it seems that it is the responsibility of the LEAGUE to investigate and prosecute crimes that may have been perpetrated by its employees.

I do NOT find this approach reasonable or acceptable.

I do indeed think that Rice should have been given a stiffer sentence with the evidence that they had. Wife-beating should be more important than the use of pot. It would seem that this would take a change in NFL policy, which is likely underway.

More bull crap.

The NFL, in it's rush to judgment, blamed the victim for this incident without all the facts into evidence.

 

[rochrist]

A league that employs ex-FBI agents as their security apparatus relies on the local police for investigation of things that concern the league? Somehow I'm doubtful of that.

 

[SB39]

Seriously. TMZ got the video. If the NFL couldn't, then they need to take that as a clear indication of how worthless their investigative skills are, and accordingly stop acting as judge, jury and executioner altogether.

And considering that this zero-tolerance, no-nonsense BS has been the driving force behind the Goodell era, he'd still need to get the axe even if they went that route.

TMZ is a celebrity news program with resources and skills you cannot imagine. They have a whole network of people they bribe to provide video, police reports, hospital reports, etc. They have broken many stories well in advance of the mainstream media. The NFL is a sports league.

Why anyone thinks a sports league should do a better job of investigative journalism than a group of professional investigative journalists is beyond me.

 

[rochrist]

Apparently, you all think that the NFL should expand its security and have a fully developed police force, rather than rely on police.

There are many choices with regard to how the LEAGUE should prosecute crimes. Almost everyone here seems to think that the league was negligent because they didn't investigate more and better than the police did. After all, it seems that it is the responsibility of the LEAGUE to investigate and prosecute crimes that may have been perpetrated by its employees.

I do NOT find this approach reasonable or acceptable.

I do indeed think that Rice should have been given a stiffer sentence with the evidence that they had. Wife-beating should be more important than the use of pot. It would seem that this would take a change in NFL policy, which is likely underway.

They already HAVE a full time police force.

 

[mgteich]

Or they should recognize that they don't have one and stop acting as if they do. I'd actually prefer that.

I tend to agree that the NFL should not investigate crimes.

However NFL investigative units sometimes need to deal with issues that affect the game and the safety of the game. Also there is this need when a team suspends a player for behavior, and the player appeals to the league.

 

[Tunescribe]

According to Adam Schefter, he may have a legitimate legal complaint against the league, because punishing him twice for the same incident is against the terms of the CBA. I don't know if any of this is actually true, but I generally consider Schefter a reliable source, and he seemes to think that Goodell is basically just daring Rice and/or the NFLPA to try to take on this league and seem pro-wifebeater.

Right. This is just more evidence why Goodell screwed up from the git-go. Rice's crime notwithstanding, he reportedly told the truth and the league acted on it. The video reveals nothing they didn't already know, but because of it they cut him loose. I would think Rice has a legitimate complaint. The key would be to separate this new evidence of his crime from how the whole case was handled by the team and commissioner's office.

 

[Zeus]

Maybe the league should fire its security team and hire a 13 year old to google TMZ, Deadspin and other sources on the net.

 

[SB39]

According to Adam Schefter, he may have a legitimate legal complaint against the league, because punishing him twice for the same incident is against the terms of the CBA. I don't know if any of this is actually true, but I generally consider Schefter a reliable source, and he seemes to think that Goodell is basically just daring Rice and/or the NFLPA to try to take on this league and seem pro-wifebeater.

Theres really no way they could have any period greater than 6 weeks hold up. That's the punishment for a first time offender. And ever that would have a hard time holding up because, as mentioned, the policy was instituted after the fact.

I think what's going to happen is once some team signs Ray Rice down the road, the suspension will be reduced to time already served.

 

[Tunescribe]

Which becomes a PR nightmare for Ray Rice and the NFLPA.

But if they have a solid legal case, it's a much bigger nightmare for the Ravens and the commissioner. All that Rice and the NFLPA have to do is separate the crime itself from how it was adjudicated by the league.

 

[BradyFTW!]

TMZ is a celebrity news program with resources and skills you cannot imagine. They have a whole network of people they bribe to provide video, police reports, hospital reports, etc. They have broken many stories well in advance of the mainstream media. The NFL is a sports league.

Why anyone thinks a sports league should do a better job of investigative journalism than a group of professional investigative journalists is beyond me.

You seem to be suggesting that the NFL couldn't have been expected to either know that a tape existed or, if they knew, didn't know how to obtain a copy of it.

Considering that A) Ray Rice's attorney had a copy of the video, B) everyone knew that he had a copy of the video, and C) the contents of the video were described accurately by a police source to the Ravens, that's simply untrue. Seeing the video should not have been a challenge for the league if indeed they wanted to pursue it. They had no business not knowing where to look.

If they couldn't get it, then it's because their investigative team sucked at its job or they didn't want it in the first place (or they're lying). And while I'm 99% certain that it's the latter, if they're going to try to save face by claiming that it's the former then they need to be willing to accept the ramifications of that. Ramification #1 being that it clearly exposes them as incompetent investigators who have no business investigating anything.

And while granted this is a bit of a tangent, there's also the fact that seeing the video shouldn't have made a difference anyway. A competent organization rules based on the facts, not whether or not the public has seen a video of the facts. How can anyone at allhave faith in the NFL's ability to mete out appropriate punishment after this?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Bobby beclowned himself.
Goodell's office first implied that RR's fiancé bore some undefined responsibility for the "incident" to justify their limp wrested penalty. Then they deliberately took the "willful ignorance" route by not insisting on the video from RR's lawyer or the casino. Cover up.
Then the belated PR driven penalty revision to 6 games 1st offense and indefinite suspension 2nd offense.
Finally a push the PR panic button escalation of RR's penalty to a 2nd offense level in contradiction of the stated new policy. The NFLPA would be all over this stomping on an individual player's rights were it not a toxic PR situation for them.

Kraft calls this series of blunders "excellent"? WTF???

This go-along BS mentality by Kraft is just what got his franchise labeled as Cheaters for all time when he fellated Goodell over the disallowed camera placement incident. Today he is an embarrassment as an owner and I hope fans let him know. I'm disgusted with Bob but not surprised.

 

[ATippett56]

But if they have a solid legal case, it's a much bigger nightmare for the Ravens and the commissioner. All that Rice and the NFLPA have to do is separate the crime itself from how it was adjudicated by the league.

This incident could turn into a real powder keg if that were to happen.

 

[Tunescribe]

This incident could turn into a real powder keg if that were to happen.

IF the Ravens/league are legally forced to reinstate Rice because of how they handled this, heads will roll -- beginning with Roger's.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

IF the Ravens/league are legally forced to reinstate Rice because of how they handled this, heads will roll -- beginning with Roger's.

No they won't because Goodell's #1 rump swab Bob Kraft will intervene as peacemaker, conciliator.
Just wait & see.

 

[BradyFTW!]

IF the Ravens/league are legally forced to reinstate Rice because of how they handled this, heads will roll -- beginning with Roger's.

Frankly, I hope it happens. Rice is a scumbag who doesn't deserve to be in the NFL, but Goodell knew everything that he needed to know when he chose to suspend him for only two games. He shouldn't get a do-over for such a colossal **** up. The belated cover up should be disallowed, if only to further expose how colossal of a **** up it really was.

 

[mayoclinic]

IF the Ravens/league are legally forced to reinstate Rice because of how they handled this, heads will roll -- beginning with Roger's.

I can't understand why the Ravens could be forced to reinstate Rice. A team can cut a player at any time, without cause. I believe that the CBA says something to the effect that the league and team can't both penalize a player for the same infraction, but I don't believe that that applies to cutting the player. Goodell's arbitrary escalation of Rice's suspension is a different matter - an obvious knee-jerk reaction to try and do PR damage control, with no respect to the CBA.