Should Roger Goodell step down over Ray Rice case?
(CNN) - National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell is coming under intense criticism Tuesday for the way he handled the case of running back Ray Rice, who was seen in a newly released video punching his then-fiancée in an elevator so hard she drops to the ground.
In the video, published Monday by TMZ, Janay Rice, now his wife, lies face down on an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino elevator floor before Rice is seen picking up her body like a rag doll and dragging her out and dropping her.
Ray Rice's career appears all but over - after the video surfaced, he was released by the Baltimore Ravens and was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
Before the TMZ video's release, Goodell had suspended Rice without pay from two games. That move was in reaction to an initial video that showed the football player dragging a limp Janay Rice from the elevator. Ray Rice was then also fined for "conduct detrimental to the NFL," according to a league statement. The total amount the multimillion-dollar player was set to lose reportedly was $529,411.
Rice's wife apparently posted a statement Tuesday on Instagram calling the situation a "nightmare."
"To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is a horrific (sic)," she wrote.
The Instagram post, reported by various media, appeared to be authentic.
The new video has outraged many. Questions must be answered, Goodell's critics say, and some are even wondering if the NFL commissioner is fit for his job.
Should NFL Chief Roger Goodell resign over the #RayRice case? http://t.co/NTnxVMcPt2 Poll Results: 75% say YES. @CNN pic.twitter.com/X2QkGid9bz
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) September 9, 2014
On Twitter
Thanks Erin Burnett for at least trying to hold the NFLPA president's feet to the fire . I generally side with the players on most issues but the fact that the NFLPA has not issued a much stronger condemnation of recent domestic violence is pathetic. The only thing that is going to change this culture is if we start showing our disgust with our wallets via the sponsors , which you also touched on tonight with the Cover Girl mention . Keep asking the tough questions please. Regards, Michael L. Black
I personally believe that the punishment given to Ray Rice is extremely harsh. This guy as well as all NFL players work so hard to be where they are. It was a mistake. Am sure he regrets it. To all who says he is their son's role model. Please get your son to adore another player or team. This should be a teaching experience to kids that there are good behaving players and bad ones. Not a time to call on Ray's career to be over. If his wife can forgive him, why can't we. Please punish him in other ways cause what he got for a first time offense is just harsh. George Zimmermann got a better deal for killing someone.
OMG! Erin, get a dictionary and look up the words FLOOR and GROUND! They are not the same .
USA is NOT "the most advanced country". While we all have domestic violence, crime etc. no other so called first world country condones murder by the state....no capital punishment...just saying!!
Jeanne Mermer jscarrow9@gmail.com
Canada
Should Target have fired my ex-boyfriend when he beat me and they knew about it? We hold the NFL responsible for activities our judicial system should control. I agree with his suspension (although this should go to court) but let's start taking this action to all abusers and not just those of high profile.
Mr. Goodell says the video of Rice punching his soon-to-be wife brought home the horror of the first video that was released of her being hauled out of the elevator by her arms and dumped on the floor like a sack of potatoes. What did he think happened in that elevator, that she swooned from his kiss? Absurd!!!
Please stop showing the post of Rice punching his wife. It is totally disrespectful to her and seems to be shown for its shock value. He has been disciplined; she doesn't need to continue to be humiliated. Media should be ashamed of the number of times this has been shown on CNN today.