The Ravens yesterday released RB Ray Rice, and coach John Harbaugh said that the decision came "after the team's decision-makers watched the video" of Rice "striking his then-fiancee Janay Palmer for the first time" yesterday, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, Harbaugh: "It changed things of course. It made things a little bit different." Harbaugh said that the Ravens "reached their decision in a quick meeting" between himself, Owner Steve Bisciotti, GM Ozzie Newsome and President Dick Cass. Asked why the team was not able to view the video released sooner, Harbaugh said, "I don't know why that would be a hard thing to understand. It wasn't available. It wasn't there for us. It wasn't something that we ever saw or had access to." Hensley noted Harbaugh has been "among the vocal supporters of Rice." Despite his release, Harbaugh said that the team "isn't abandoning" Rice. Harbaugh: "Everything I said in terms of what I believe, I stand by. I believe that still" (ESPN.com, 9/8). USA TODAY's Gary Mihoces writes the "harsh reality of the latest video was the tipping point" in the Ravens' decision to cut Rice. But after "seeing the new video, did Harbaugh feel misled by Rice about what had happened?" Harbaugh: "I don't want to get into all that. I don't think of it that way. Everything I said in terms of what I believe I stand by. I believe that still" (USA TODAY, 9/9). In Baltimore, Marbella & Wenger note by 2:18pm ET, about 10 hours after TMZ "released the new footage, the Ravens issued a terse statement announcing that Rice's contract had been terminated, a move that will cost the team millions of dollars." Soon thereafter, the NFL "suspended the player indefinitely" (Baltimore SUN, 9/9). ESPN’s Ed Werder reported this morning the decision by the Ravens was made independently and without input from the NFL. He added the Ravens leadership was “surprised” when the league took additional action against Rice after they cut him (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 9/9).
FORCED TO TAKE ACTION? In Baltimore, Mike Preston writes it was a "good move" by the Ravens to cut Rice and the NFL to indefinitely suspend him, but the new video and the "negative publicity forced the two organizations to act." If the Ravens had "not taken some action against Rice, there would have been tremendous backlash both locally and nationally" (Baltimore SUN, 9/9). Though Harbaugh addressed the issue yesterday, CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora wrote the Ravens "should have ownership speaking to this issue. Not just the coach" (TWITTER.com, 9/8). In DC, Thom Loverro writes, "What changed since a month before, when Harbaugh called the incident a lesson for the kids? Isn't Rice a 'heck of a guy' anymore?" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/9). A Baltimore SUN editorial states, "The Ravens are a business. They supported Mr. Rice when they thought he still added value to the team. Now, no amount of on-field talent can make up for the revulsion Ravens fans will feel" (Baltimore SUN, 9/9). CBSSPORTS.com's Will Brinson noted the Ravens yesterday "finally deleted" a tweet from May that was one of the "most tone-deaf PR/media moves you'll ever see." Rice and his wife, Janay, in May addressed the incident in a Ravens press conference, with Rice's then-fiancee saying she regretted the "role that I played in the incident that night." The Ravens "tweeted Janay's comments," and despite "obvious public backlash they continued to leave the tweet up" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/8). ESPN’s Keith Olbermann said Cass and Newsome “put the meaninglessness of their own team’s financial and on-field success ahead of the safety and well-being, not only of Janay Palmer, but of every woman in this country now threatened by a man” (“Olbermann,” ESPN2, 9/8).
RICE'S FUTURE: In Baltimore, Aaron Wilson cited sources as saying that Rice "is distraught and concerned about his uncertain outlook after being fired from his job and punished for the second time by the NFL." Former NFL agent Joel Corry said, "Ray could get blackballed. We may have seen the last of him." Meanwhile, the CFL announced yesterday that its teams "will honor Rice's suspension and not attempt to sign him" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/8). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Kevin Clark notes Rice "eventually will be able to apply for reinstatement to the league, but reaction in the football world Monday suggested his number of suitors could be limited" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/9). ESPN's Adam Schefter reported teams were notified that "any contract with Ray Rice will not be approved or take effect until further direction is provided" by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (TWITTER.com, 9/8).
