Ray Rice Video Punching Wife Released; Twitter Reacts Against Baltimore Ravens Star
Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended by two games by the National Football League (NFL) for his involvement in an altercation with then-fiancee Janay Palmer in February 2014. Recent footage of a second video surfaced on Monday night and the league might have to think twice about the gravity of the situation and re-evaluate the severity of the punishment.
TMZ Sports has released the video in their website and the clip has since gone viral with sports fans and casual observers demanding that the NFL take a look at the said video and mete out a more serious penalty against the Ravens running back Rice:
Watch the graphic video of Ray Rice punching his fiancée below:
(YouTube/TMZSports)
Initial videos released months before showed only Rice dragging her fiancee’s unconscious body outside the elevator but the new release now shows the actual punches by Rice to the head/face of then-Ms. Palmer—now Mrs. Rice, since they got married in March 2014.
As expected, NFL and sports fans took their thoughts on social media Twitter after the release of the second video:
Breaking News: Isis calls new Ray Rice video “barbaric”
— Ed Driscoll (@theeddriscoll) September 8, 2014
Ray Rice incident is indicative of NFL's culture. #NFL lies about everything that impacts the shield (concussions, off-field player conduct) — Christopher Harris (@cdewayneharris) September 8, 2014
Donald Sterling: Banned for life for a few remarks Ray Rice: Suspended 2 games for KNOCKING OUT a woman There's something very wrong here. — Miss Conservative (@conserv_miss) September 8, 2014
. @ravens do the right thing and release Ray Rice. Show that there is no place for this among role models — Brendan ekstrom (@Brendanekstrom) September 8, 2014
Ray Rice hit his wife with a Mortal Kombat finishing move smh — GO CHARGERS (@BasedChasen) September 8, 2014
The second video of the Rice punching his wife also elicited more reactions from known sports personalities including NFL players: From Canadian rugby player Jebb Sinclair:
Just saw the Ray Rice clip. People talking longer suspension are idiots. Guy should go to prison. — Jebb Sinclair (@jebbsinclair) September 8, 2014
From Chuck Swirsky, Chicago Bulls commentator:
This Ray Rice video is very ,very disturbing. — chuck swirsky (@swirsk054) September 8, 2014
From recording artist/singer Ja Rule:
Damn Ray Rice NOT COOL he should get the LIFE ban... — Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) September 8, 2014
From Jake Diekman, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher:
That #RayRice video is disgusting. How the NFL hands out a 2 game suspension for that is brutal. Sac up NFL. How is that P.O.S not in jail?! — Jake Diekman (@JakeDiekman) September 8, 2014
From Terrance Knighton, Denver Broncos defensive tackle:
That man should be thrown out the the nfl and thrown into jail. Shame on those deciding his punishment. Smh — Terrance Knighton (@MrKnighton2u) September 8, 2014
From Scott Fujita, former NFL linebacker:
I'm glad no one this morning seems to care about yesterday's games. This piece of shit needs to be out of the league. Period. — Scott Fujita (@sfujita55) September 8, 2014
From LaCharles Bentley, former NFL center:
NFL players want to stand up for some shat, don't play against Ravens until Rice is suspended indefinitely. What if that was YOUR daughter? — LeCharles Bentley (@LeCharlesBent65) September 8, 2014
The NFL has reportedly not seen the second video when they meted out a two-game suspension against Rice although there are reports that the league already saw it but decided against a much-heavier penalty despite the gravity of the act.
The NFL or the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has yet to release an official statement after the second video of Rice punching the woman was shown publicly.