I haven't followed this too closely, but I at least partially disagree with Stewart here:

1) The original video from outside the elevator didn't really provide conclusive proof about what happened. Her being knocked unconscious as a result of physical violence was the most likely explanation for what we saw there, but I think there was room for reasonable doubt at the time. She could have been passed out drunk or otherwise intoxicated, or knocked out by somebody else.

That original video was certainly enough to have police look into the event further. I assume that happened, but I don't know the results. I can only assume that no charges were pressed. Beyond that, I didn't / don't think it was necessary for the NFL to get involved at all. Especially since the first video didn't really prove that he did anything wrong.


2) If the NFL wanted to get involved, sure they could try to get their hands on more evidence (like the 2nd video). But, it isn't really their business -- let the police worry about that. And taking any actions against a player that is a suspect of any crime would be risky too... For example, a policy of suspending a player that has an active investigation against them before it has been concluded could easily be abused.


3) Maybe the NFL saw the 2nd video a long time ago, and maybe they didn't. Their actions now definitely seem like spin / damage control, but I don't think it is particularly fair to get all ticked off at the NFL even if you assume that they are lying and that they had seen the 2nd video a long time ago.

If the police and prosecutors want to send Rice to jail for his actions, by all means do so -- it would be well deserved. But criminal justice isn't in the purview of the NFL. Let the police take care of it, and if they fail to punish him adequately it is their fault, not the NFL's.

Now that the NFL has (and is forced to acknowledge) the definitive evidence about what happened from the 2nd video, it is fine (and GOOD) that they suspended him. But, I'm not too upset at them for taking their time to decide to do that. The slaps on the wrist from the criminal justice system are a much bigger concern, at least from my point of view.

But, I haven't been following this story too closely, so maybe I missed some stuff that would sway my opinion.

If it wasn't caught on tape, it didn't happen, as far as NFL is concerned.
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Adding video to channels (Fail) - requested by Zawash.

I'm with you on this one. I haven't been following it either. My whole take on this is, why does it fall on his employer to punish him and why isn't he in jail? I can understand his team and sponsors ditching him not wanting to be associated with a wife beater, but if it was just some burger flipper at McDonald's that nobody knew, would anyone be pressuring McDonald's to fire or suspend an employee for doing the same?

I'm curious as to what constitutes self-defense in a case like this. Janay was clearly charging Rice in the second video. Would Rice's reaction qualify as self-defense if he had waited until she actually landed an attack first? Or is self-defense not applicable to men when the attacker is female? If the attacker had been male, would there have been any controversy whatsoever or would people have simply laughed and said "Hah, what kind of idiot attacks a professional football player?"

Apparently they were having a heated argument and Rice spat on Janay, which triggered the charge by Janay. Does spitting on someone constitute physical assault? Before they entered the elevator, Janay slapped Rice. Does that constitute physical assault?

Much ado about nothing. It's not like he killed some dogs, had someone murdered and walked away from it, or was a gang thug that is being charged with murder. What's next, we ban people for stealing laptops, buying rims with illegal money, or shoplifting lobsters?