Former Baltimore Ravens Running Back & Wife Beater Ray Rice Wins Appeal of Indefinite Suspension, Reinstated to the NFL (Update: Some Teams Interested)

RICE WINS APPEAL BUT WHO IS CRAZY ENOUGH TO SIGN HIM.

Yesterday, former Baltimore RB Ray Rice won his appeal against the NFL for lifting his indefinite suspension. Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones ruled in favor of Rice to have him reinstated to the NFL, following his fiance/wife (Janay Palmer) beating incident. However, what team is going to be crazy enough to sign Rice and deal with the media circus and rightful protests from organizations against domestic abuse? Just because some one has been reinstated to play in the NFL does not mean that they will be signed to play. Currently, the Denver Broncos are in need of a running back in their playoff drive, bus=t is the risk/reward worth it?

“I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisors, family, friends and fans — but most importantly, my wife Janay,” Rice said in a statement released by the NFLPA on Friday. “I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions.

“I am thankful that there was a proper appeals process in place to address this issue. I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes.”

Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who heard Rice’s appeal earlier this month, concluded in her decision, which was obtained by ESPN, that Rice did not lie to or mislead NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

17 Page Ray Rice ruling Shreds NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

“Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated.”

An abuse of discretion. As much as sports commissioners prefer that bad news breaks on Friday afternoons (never mind the Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving), when people are busy fleeing the office and diving into their weekend plans, Goodell couldn’t escape the magnitude of this rebuke.

The commissioner gave Rice only two games after seeing the first video — the outside-the-elevator video — despite the horrifying images of the running back dragging his unconscious fiancée, Janay Palmer, and dropping her face-first to the floor. Goodell admitted he “didn’t get it right” and introduced tougher domestic policy measures — a six-game ban for the first offense, a potential lifetime ban for the second — only after outrage from fans, sponsors and the news media forced him to act.

Jones’ report said Goodell called Rice after that policy change and made it clear to him the terms of his punishment wouldn’t change. But when the second video surfaced, showing the very violence any reasonable witness would’ve imagined by watching the first video, Goodell knew he was in deep, deep trouble.

UPDATE I: Ray Rice reportedly Drawing Interest from 4 Teams:

Sorry, but running backs are one of the most interchangeable positions in the NFL. Add that to the pass-happy NFL. It is the reason why very few are ever drafted in the top 10 anymore. It is doubtful that any team would pick him up this year and want to deal with the PR and the disruption it might cause in the locker room.

At least four teams have expressed interest in recently reinstated running back Ray Rice, including Indianapolis and New Orleans, though the Colts and Saints are not expected to pursue him, according to multiple league sources.

Two sources declined to identify the other two teams that have been checking into Rice.

It still will be difficult for Rice to find work this season. He turns 28 in January, is coming off a down season and hasn’t played football since training camp. But Rice signing this season is not out of the question, either, if the right team should emerge.

Multiple NFL executives have said the profile of a team willing to sign Rice would be one that is a contender with injuries in its backfield and a strong-minded head coach.

Zale H. Thompson Attacks NYC Police Officers with Hatchet … Suspect Shot Dead by Police (Update: His Facebook Points to Radicalized Lone Wolf Jihadist)

MORE ATTACKS ON POLICE OFFICERS, JUST LIKE ISIS CALLED FOR …

32 year old Zale Thompson, a resident of Queens, New York, was shot dead by police Thursday after he attacked two NYC police officers with a hatchet. One officer was struck in the arm and another in the head by the hatchet wielding suspect. According to Commissioner Bill Bratton, Zale Thompson “charged at the officers with a hatchet in his hand. Unprovoked and not speaking a word, the male then swung at one of the officers with a hatchet, striking his right arm. After striking that officer, the suspect continuing swinging the hatchet, striking a second officer in the head.”

Zale Thompson had a past criminal record; however, upon further review it seems like this may be the acts of a lone wolf terrorist, radicalized Muslim.

Police say they were investigating whether Thompson’s attack on the cops was linked to Islamic terrorism. ISIS has urged fighters to launch lone wolf attacks in the United States.

Thompson’s Facebook page features a photograph of a man dressed in Middle Eastern garb and a cover photo displaying Arabic writing.

CNN:

A man charged at four New York police officers with a metal hatchet Thursday, hitting two of them at a time of high alert for authorities concerned they might be targeted in the United States and Canada.

The suspect was hiding behind a bus shelter as if he was waiting to attack the officers, according to a law enforcement official, who said it almost appeared as if he was stalking them. The officers were posing for a photo when the man pounced, police Commissioner Bill Bratton said.

He struck one officer in the right arm and another in the head, according to the commissioner. The two officers who weren’t hit then shot at and killed the attacker.

The law enforcement official identified the suspect as Zale H. Thompson, who had a criminal record in California and had been discharged from the Navy for misconduct, according to the source.

The police officer who was struck in the head remains in critical but stable condition. The other officer, who is 24, was struck in the arm and was expected to be released soon.

UPDATE I: Atlas Shrugs – Pamela Geller.

Facebook

According to his Facebook page, Thompson is a native of Queens. In 2011, Thompson graduated from Teacher’s College in Columbia University. His page also says that he went to the The College of New Rochelle and High School of Graphic Communications Arts. His last-known address is unknown. He is 32 years old. On his LinkedIn page, Thompson lists his skills as Microsoft Office, Public Speaking and Research.

On his Facebook page, he also went by the name Zaim Farouq Abdul-malik.

1.Thompson Wielded an 18-Inch Ax
2. He Was Discharged From the Navy
3. Zale Was Vocal Online About Racism

Arizona Cardinals Running Back Jonathan Dwyer Arrested Wednesday on Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault Charges

ARE YOU KIDDING ME … AND THE HITS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSAULTS KEEP ON COMING.

Second verse, same as the first … Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been arrested on assault charges. GOOD GRIEF. The charges against 25 year old Jonathan Dwyer  include aggravated assault and preventing someone from calling 911, in connection with two altercations at his home in July involving a woman and an 18-month-old child. The alleged assaults occurred on July 21 at 8 a.m. and July 22 at 4 p.m. According to the police, Dwyer admits involvement in the incidents; however, denies assaulting anyone. has   Dwyer has been deactivated from all team activities. Dwyer spent Wednesday night in jail before being released about 5 a.m. Thursday morning on $25,000 bond.

VIDEO – AP

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been arrested on assault charges, including aggravated assault and preventing someone from calling 911, it was revealed Wednesday evening.

Phoenix police said the charges stemmed from two separate incidents that are alleged to have occurred at his home in late July. A report was first made to the Phoenix Police Department on Sept. 11, and when detectives questioned Dwyer, he admitted to the incidents but denied any physical assaults, police said.

Dwyer was being booked into the Maricopa County Jail on Wednesday on one count of aggravated assault causing a fracture, one count of aggravated assault involving a minor, two counts of criminal damage, one count of preventing the use of a phone in an emergency, and assault, police said.

VIDEO – ABC Arizona

Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer arrested on assault charges.

Neighbors heard a fight and called police, who showed up at the residence. Police Sgt. Trent Crump said Dwyer hid in the bathroom until police left. The next day, Crump said Dwyer snatched the woman’s cellphone and threw it from the second floor of their home to prevent her from calling police about another dispute.

The woman came forward last week, providing police with information about her injuries and text messages that indicated Dwyer “was going to harm himself because of what had been going on,” police said.

Arizona Cardinals’ Jonathan Dwyer arrested for domestic violence charges.

On July 21, Phoenix police were called to the home and were met at the door by the victim who denied there was anyone else in the home. She indicated she was in an argument on the phone. The officers left. Police later learned Dwyer was hiding in a bathroom at the home, Crump said.

On July 22, the victim tried calling 911 during a second incident, but Dwyer allegedly grabbed the cell phone and threw it from the second floor of their home to keep her from calling police, according to Crump. He also said after the alleged physical altercation, Dwyer threw a shoe toward the child.

In the wake of the alleged attacks, the victim, whose name hasn’t been released, left the state with their child, Crump said.

The victim, still living out of state, contacted Phoenix police on Sept. 11 with details about the injuries suffered during the alleged attacks. She alleged Dwyer has sent her a photo of a knife and also described threatening text messages she had received from Dwyer.

Arizona Cardinals released the statement after deactivating Dwyer on Wednesday:

“We became aware of these allegations this afternoon when notified by Phoenix police and are cooperating fully. Given the serious nature of the allegations we have taken the immediate step to deactivate Jonathan from all team activities. We will continue to closely monitor this as it develops and evaluate additional information as it becomes available.”

NFL’s Carolina Panthers Guilted into Deactivating DE Greg Hardy Who was Found Guilty in July of Assaulting & Threatening His ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder

ALL EYES WERE ON RAY RACE … BUT THE NFL ONCE AGAIN DROPPED THE BALL ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH CAROLINA PANTHERS’ DE GREG HARDY …

Drip, drip drip … Yet another black eye for the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Just how many is it going to take before heads roll, other than the one’s of the victims? At what point will the NFL take any of this serious, when they lose millions in endorsements and have pressure from advertisers? Must it all be that cynical that these owners only care about money?

Latest Twitter protest against Goodell – Photoshopped Covergirl get your game face on … Pic – VIDEO

@nflcommish are you ready for some protest!?! #GoodellMustGo #BoycottNFL pic.twitter.com/3p4YnwN2F8

All the reports and news attention was on Ray Rice, former running back of the Baltimore Ravens, when TMZ released the VIDEO inside the elevator of Rice knocking out cold his then fiance and now wife, Janay Palmer.  The focus of the discussion became, how did the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell not see this video prior handing out the pathetic two game suspension to Rice? How does an individual get paid $44 million a year and handle an investigation like this?  It would be one thing if this was the only case that has been at the forefront of the NFL and domestic violence, or any violence for that matter. There was already the case of San Fransisco 49ers Ray McDonald and his domestic violence charges. Then most recently the indictment of Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson on child abuse charges.

BUT DID YOU KNOW ABOUT GREG HARDY? WHO?

Greg Hardy was found guilty in July 2014 in a Mecklenburg County, North Carolina courthouse of assault on a female and communicating threats. The conviction stemmed from a May 13 incident involving his former girlfriend said that  she was attacked by Hardy who threw her on a bed covered in guns and “bragged that all of those assault rifles were loaded.” In the protective order request, the woman said Hardy picked her up and threw her into the tile tub area of the bathroom. He then dragged her into the bedroom, choked her, picked her up again and “threw me onto a couch covered in assault rifles and/or shotguns.”

 Copy of protective order against Panther Greg Hardy.

The Carolina Panthers defensive end was sentenced to a 60-day suspended sentence and 18 months’ probation by judge Rebecca Tin. Hardy’s attorney says he will appeal and request a jury trial, and the terms of probation do not apply while he awaits an appeal by jury in Superior Court. That means Hardy’s ability to travel with the team and go to training camp is not affected, per The AP. Hardy had pleaded not guilty earlier Tuesday.

The Panthers released a statement, which read: “We have just learned of the verdict and are respectful of the process. We do not have a comment at this time.”

BUT GUESS WHAT, AS OF THIS MORNING, GREG HARDY HAD RECEIVED NO PUNISHMENT FROM THE NFL OR THE CAROLINA PANTHERS. AS OF THIS MORNING, HARDY WAS SCHEDULED TO PLAY THIS SUNDAY.

Enter ESPN, Outside The Lines (VIDEO) … Greg Hardy’s Domestic Violence Charge.

Here is a case that did go through the legal process, was adjudicated and Greg hardy was found guilty of assault. So what was the NFL, the Carolina Panthers or Goodell waiting for?

Watch VIDEO – Click HERE

SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE … In the face of the embarrassing ESPN OTL airing of this how the NFL has once again fumbled the ball on domestic violence against woman … the Carolina Panthers have deactivated Greg Hardy for today’s game. REALLY, How big of you.

The Carolina Panthers placed defensive end Greg Hardy on the inactive list for Sunday’s home opener against the Detroit Lions.

The move came two days after coach Ron Rivera said he planned to start the 2013 Pro Bowl selection, who was found guilty in July by a Mecklenburg County judge of assaulting and threatening ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.

Team officials said they will not address Hardy’s situation or his future with the team until after the game.

The San Francisco 49ers are aware of the Panthers’ decision to deactivate Hardy but still plan on playing defensive tackle Ray McDonald, who was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence on Aug. 31, against the Bears on Sunday night, a team source told ESPN’s Jim Trotter.

Rivera said Friday the team hadn’t changed its stance on Hardy, who is appealing the verdict with a jury trial tentatively set for Nov. 17. Hardy’s attorney insists the case won’t be heard until 2015 because of the court’s case backload. Under North Carolina law involving defendants convicted of a misdemeanor, the jury trial will take place as if no previous trial took place.

“We are in a process and we’re letting the process play its way out,” Rivera said Friday. “Because of that, we’re following through with the situation, set of circumstances. We’re not trying to do anything below board or way above board. ”

Watch the ESPN “NFL Countdown” crew discuss the situation. Chris Berman says, “I am not really that surprised … they had to do it”. However, the best reaction and commentary to the Greg Hardy situation was from former Denver Bronco great Tom Jackson, ‘How could you allow Greg Hardy to be on the field, due process has played out, he’s convicted, he’s appealing, . We know the facts of the case, their undisputed. And were you going to find it as you took the temperature of public opinion were you going to find that you could put him on the field because he is important to you’re winning and losing.

WATCH VIDEO – CLICK HERE

San Francisco 49′ers DE Ray McDonald Arrested on Domestic Violence Charges … Will Test NFL’s New Tougher Penalties for Players Accused of Domestic Violence

29 year old San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald was arrested early Sunday morning on domestic violence charges.  Police officers responded to a call at 2:48 a.m. PT as the incident occurred on Bentley Ridge Drive, part of an upscale San Jose, CA neighborhood. McDonald’s arrest occurred just three days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced tougher penalties for players accused of domestic violence where under the league’s newly implemented personal conduct policy, a first domestic-violence offense will result in a six-game ban and a second in a lifetime ban from the NFL. McDonald was previously arrested for DUI in Santa Clara County, CA in 2010.

This should be interesting what happens to Ray McDonald going forward with the 49′ers as Coach Jim Harbaugh has stated in the past he had zero tolerance for those that would put their hands on a woman. Time for Harbaugh to put some action to his words.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has told 49ers players that domestic violence would not be tolerated on his team.

“He said that we can do anything in the world and we can come and talk to him and he’ll forgive us except put our hands on women,” former 49ers safety Donte Whitner said in 2012. “If you put your hand on a woman, then you’re done in his book.”

Ray McDonald- (San Jose Police Department)

San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald has been arrested on domestic violence charges.

San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol confirmed that McDonald, 29, was taken into custody early Sunday after officers responded to a call at 2:48 a.m. PT.

McDonald was jailed on felony domestic violence charges and was in the custody of the Santa Clara Sheriff’s Department before posting bail Sunday afternoon

49ers’ Ray McDonald arrested Sunday for felony domestic abuse.

Police arrived at 2:48 a.m. to McDonald’s home, where a party was being held in honor of McDonald’s birthday. He turns 30 Tuesday.

McDonald apparently was involved in an altercation with his fiancee, whom a police source said is 10 weeks pregnant. When she showed police minor bruises on her neck and arms, McDonald was arrested without incident.

McDonald was booked at 5:30 a.m. in Santa Clara County jail for “inflicting injury on a spouse or cohabitant,” according to the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections. Bail was set at $25,000 and McDonald was released at 11:30 a.m.

Get ready for the 49er’s D-line to take a hit as Ray McDonald will be suspended for a mandatory 6 games, added to the already suspended for 9 games pass rusher Aldon Smith for multiple off-field incidents. Hmm, I wonder if they will be giving DE Michael Sam a call?