Ray Rice

An arbitrator ruled yesterday that the NFL can’t have a do-over disciplining Ray Rice of the Ravens.  Roger Goodell’s indefinite suspension of Rice—up from an initial two games—is overturned, and Rice is free to sign with any team willing to look the other way on the issue of domestic violence.  No doubt, some plucky general manager will say the star running back only hit his fiancé one time.

The arbitrator—a former federal judge and, ironically, a woman—has thrown Goodell for a considerable loss.  All that work to show the NFL as a league devoted to good works is for naught.  Instead, the league is exposed sans fig leaf.  Suddenly, that constant Sunday afternoon message of watch, indulge, enjoy and look the other way isn’t quite so mesmerizing.  A slew of former players suffering a variety of injuries don’t buy it, and neither do all female fans.

And it’s only going to get worse.  Next week, Ray Rice appears on the Today Show to rehabilitate his image (kudos to his management team in arranging that) while another arbitrator will rule on Adrian Peterson’s appeal of his suspension for using a switch on his four-year old son.  I bet Roger Goodell wishes prosecutors weren’t so willing to plea deal.  Then his job would be ever so easy.