Ray Rice Booted from Ravens After new Video Emerges – Too Harsh a Penalty?

If this had been a newer, more recent incident,  then perhaps the harsh punishment should have been handed down. Monday, Rice's contract was terminated by the Baltimore Ravens - fired.

Don't think for a moment we are condoning domestic violence.  But this video, which was unearthed by the ethically-challenged punks at the gossip website TMZ,  is additional  footage of the incident Rice was already suspended for. 
  This is NOT footage of a new incident, nor have there been any reports of such.

Back in February, Rice punched his then-fiance' Janay Palmer, in an elevator.  The two are now married, and when TMZ issued video of Rice dragging the unconscious woman from the elevator, he was suspended for two games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.   Rice and his wife have entered counseling, and both appeared at several press conferences, where they openly discussed their issues, and efforts being made to fix their marriage.

No further incidents have happened, and the two have been unified in their efforts to mend their marriage.  Rice has not dodged the issue, and has -at least publicly - appeared to be working hard to repair his marriage and image.

But the new shocking video shows him punching Palmer and actually assaulting her.

While we are NOT condoning his behavior,   it seems as though the Ravens are doing this to "save face" and appeal to those who are calling for Rice's head.

In perhaps one of the most ironic statements of the year,  rapper Ja Rule said Rice should be banned from the NFL for life.    Coming from the thug culture of rap music, that's a pretty stupid statement.

But it appears Rice is being hit with double-jeopardy.   The NFL and Ravens already dealt with this issue, but now that the video has emerged,  they're piling on.   Nobody condones this behavior.  But when did we become a nation that piles on?  Rice has been trying to make amends,  he and his wife are in counseling, and she has even said she played a role in their issues.  Rice has taken this issue seriously, and now this.

Now, a person who made serious mistake, but has been trying to own up to it and rectify the situation, is being piled upon by the self-righteous in our society.   Yes,  it was serious, and yes he deserved probably a longer suspension.  But to terminate his contract (fire him)  over extra video of an incident he has owned up to is going too far.

I guess when one of us screws up publicly, we might as well jump off the Blue Bridge, because everyone else is so perfect, and we will never be able to do anything to rectify that mistake. Numerous postings of the video can be seen on YouTube, should you want to watch the new footage.