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Steinberg: NFL deserves a penalty for shameful handling of Ray Rice

It was reported that the Baltimore Ravens have terminated Ray Rice's contract in the wake of video showing him hitting his then-fiancee Janay Palmer.
It was reported that the Baltimore Ravens have terminated Ray Rice’s contract in the wake of video showing him hitting his then-fiancee Janay Palmer.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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The NFL has failed in its duty to serve as a shining example of on- and off-field behavior with the handling of Ray Rice allegedly knocking his wife unconscious and dragging her off an elevator earlier this year.

Domestic violence is a massive societal problem with millions of women being abused and left unprotected by a system that often victimizes them again. A more-graphic video showing Rice hitting his wife was released Monday by TMZ. In response, the NFL indefinitely suspended Rice, and the Baltimore Ravens terminated his contract.

Too little, too late.

Both the Ravens and the commissioner complimented Rice for his openness and transparency in owning up to the violence he committed on his diminutive fiancée, who is now his wife.

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Rice is an incredibly powerful man, who is able to win physical battles with some of the strongest men in the world. His wife is a petite woman with a slim build. He purportedly hit her in the face and knocked her out, according to the video shown on TMZ. These are the facts that his team and the commissioner knew.

The Ravens’ response, from the owner to the coach, was to vociferously defend Rice. They used their facility for press conferences and their website to rave about Rice’s character.

They even posted a tweet of Rice’s wife apologizing for her “part” in the incident. Nary a word of criticism came from the organization. ESPN reported that as late as this morning, they were willing to move ahead with Rice and only relented when the torrent of criticism built.

Commissioner Roger Goodell heard all the facts last month. He complimented Rice for his openness. All the facts mean he knew Rice had knocked out his then fiancée.

He levied a two-game suspension. Only when a nationwide firestorm of criticism erupted did he admit he “blew it” and establish a long-overdue domestic-abuse policy.

Football may be a powerful business, but it is a game, primarily a male game. As males, we have a duty to protect our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and every other woman.

Pro football can send a powerful message against domestic violence instead of modeling violence and sweeping it under the rug. It is time for the sport we love to stand up for decency!

LEIGH STEINBERG is a renowned sports agent, author, advocate, speaker and humanitarian. Follow Leigh on Twitter: @steinbergsports.

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