I don't know why the code of conduct is set up the way it is, my thought is they are trying to put forth a face of responsible, law-abiding athletes. Professionals, you know? ::shrugs:: I'm no expert though.

my thought is they are trying to put forth a face of responsible, law-abiding athletes

No, they are put forth to add value to a franchise much like a steak at a steakhouse.

The change was due to the outcry about 2 game suspension being insufficient!!!!!!

Just saw the Ravens have terminated Rice's contract.

Ray Rice, is that his name? Anyway, he is done in the NFL. Maybe he will have to sue to keep playing.

Could be that the Jets will sign him as he has already proven that he can receive a hand off from Vick at least as being the most hated person in the NFL.

This is a mess for the NFL and Goodell. Hard to believe they couldn't have gotten their hands on it if they wanted to.

The NFL is a brand. They are doing what they believe will protect the brand, albeit somewhat inconsistantly. And its not unheard of in banking. We have fired individuals based on behavior outside fo the work place before as well.

There are segments of society that do not share values with the majority. This is something not talked about much, and probably can't be discussed in the cooler.

Heard a very astute quote from a woman being interviewed last night about the Ray Rice situation. She said that Rice isn't being suspended because the NFL saw the inside-the-elevator video; he's being suspended because we saw the video.

Over to you, Roger Goodell.

and yesterday his wife comes out saying basically "you people have ruined our lives and caused him to get fired from a job he worked his expletive off to get"...

umm, no, he ruined your lives when he punched you on camera...

and now that he has lost his job, and with no other discernable job skills or job opportunities, the chances that the abuse gets ramped up grows...

very sad for her, very sad indeed.

to make more $$$. Imagine the NFL decided it only cared about on field stuff. So Ray Rice (among others) is playing Sunday. Since it's a high profile entertainment business, people pay more attention than if you or I got into legal trouble and start to boycott. Yeah, the hardcore fans would stick around (or come right back) but the NFL has long grown past that core demographic--that's why the halftime show at the Superbowl is always Beyonce or Black Eyed Peas and not AC/DC or Metallica. The NFL has the hardcore football fans money no matter what--they're targeting the casual fans.

I supposed the NFL could make the teams responsible for discipline, but then you only have the reputation of the shadiest owner. And you still have the same overall issues--all you do is shift blame from the main office to the individual owners. And the owners employ Goodell, they aren't looking to shift the publics sights onto them.

I keep hearing "he should never be able to play in the NFL again". The guy made a horrible mistake, no question. But what'shisname from the Cowboys whose teammate was killed in his drunk driving accident....where are all the calls for this guy never to play again? Isn't he already at least back on the Cowboys' practice squad?

It's ok to talk about professional athletes, aka immature young men with millions of dollars.

well, i wonder how many people boycotted the NFL on opening weekend since he was still on the roster? I'm fairly certain it was a big fat zero.

did people boycott when 2 different big name QBs were accused of sexual improprieties? How about around 10% of the Bengals squad at any given time has been arrested. Or when a number of Cowboys and Saint's players were using steroids or worse drugs? how many are boycotting because Vick is playing?

let's be honest here, while it is terrible that this piece of garbage hit this woman, unless you know her personally or work in a domestic violence related job, this will not change your viewing habits of the NFL. The actions of the NFL on this will neither bring in nor turn away casual fans.

Why not require anger management classes for both Mr. and Mrs. Rice. They were both swinging and engaged in domestic violence. The league could turn this into a feel good story if they both turned around and stopped acting like they are gangsters.

oh pale, if they were gangsters they would have had guns...this is likely nothing but a misunderstood version of the "husband and wife knockout game" that these youngsters were playing

Vick is backing up Geno Smith isn't that enough punishment?

And now Adrian Peterson is arrested/indicted for negligent injury to a child. Apparently from disciplining him with a switch.

so, this should just be an AWESOME national discussion coming up.

Yes, but has the NFL seen the video, that's what counts.

He's on one of my fantasy teams. I guess I better bench him this week.

I'm neither a Viking nor an OU fan, but I'm gonna have to know a lot more about this one before I'm willing to buy into it.
If he gave a kid a swat for misbehaving, I'm not on the child abuse band wagon for that. If he beat a kid with a tree branch, thats a different story.

His fate will be decided by how much public uproar the media can generate over this regardless of those silly facts. If it's a slow weekend for news he may be toast, but if a hooker overdoses in Tiger Woods hotel room we may never hear anything more about it.

i eagerly anticipate when Al Sharpton steps into the fray, pointing out that no white player is being charged with personal conduct issues by the NFL and this is nothing but a blatant racist witch hunt by a white-bred organization that preys off the hard work of the black man whiole making the white masters rich (completely ignoring that very few players in the NFL, regardless of skin color, can be considered anything less than rich).

Given no hooker was found in Tigers room, I would say the NFL is still front and center in the news. I haven't seen the pitures, (nor do I want to) but they are apparently horrifying.

Yeah, there are pics floating around out there and text to the boys mother stating how he had to pop him a few more times than usual because he wouldn't cry... it is far more than a swat on the bum.