Ravens owner press conf....

[The Old Crow]

This is bad Crow. Blaming Rice? Something does not add up here. Ravens could have suspended Rice on their own. They didn't have to wait for Roger.

Most NFL teams have waited for the NFL to hash out discipline , unless it's for murder or something like that. I know it's bad , but it's ultimately Rice's fault like it was with Hernandez. You can try to control I'll behavior as an organization , but sometimes you come up short.

[thedude]

And more inconsistent and contradictory stories on this endless issue

[amfootball]

Isn't Rice the one who hit his fiance? 

Huh? I was talking about the Ravens suspending Rice on their own for his actions rather than waiting for the league. It was ridiculous for him to say that he thought the league was going to give out a 4-6 game suspension and was surprised it was only 2. He HAD the power to suspend Rice all along if he thought the offense deserved more games,

[amfootball]

Most NFL teams have waited for the NFL to hash out discipline , unless it's for murder or something like that. I know it's bad , but it's ultimately Rice's fault like it was with Hernandez. You can try to control I'll behavior as an organization , but sometimes you come up short.

I get what you are saying But again as with Goodell, this is NOT about the offense but the handling of it.

[amfootball]

I didn't watch the whole thing.

 

I read the OTL article the other day and came away with the impression that it was spin from parties sympathetic to Ray Rice. (And that's ironic, considering the fact that Ray Rice is the one who knocked his fiance out in the elevator, and now we're supposed to feel sorry for how the Ravens treated him. Two months ago, people wanted him banned for life. Weird.)

 

And I read the Ravens' rebuttal of the OTL piece. They could be lying about the whole thing, but they summarily dismissed the entire angle of the OTL article, from the idea that they were trying to protect Rice to the idea that they were trying to keep him quiet, post-release.

 

Really, this OTL thing and the Ravens' rebuttal kind of reinforces the idea that there's a press and a public who want nothing more than to see heads roll. 

How on earth is this about people wanting to see heads roll? Again, there is a terrible mishandling of this situation by the Ravens and a possible cover up. Serious business IMO if that latter is true especially. Do you believe the league and public should just turn a blind eye?

[The Old Crow]

I get what you are saying But again as with Goodell, this is NOT about the offense but the handling of it.

Many teams are guilty of this and it is a league wide problem. Bisciotti conceded the Ravens could have done more, should have kept pressing for the tape, but stood down when it was elevated to a felony. He conceded they could have handled it better before the ESPN story. He apologized, what else can he say ?

[amfootball]

Many teams are guilty of this and it is a league wide problem. Bisciotti conceded the Ravens could have done more, should have kept pressing for the tape, but stood down when it was elevated to a felony. He conceded they could have handled it better before the ESPN story. He apologized, what else can he say ?

No other team to my knowledge has ever been involved in this type of situation with a videotape of a crime available. To your point, if everything is as Bisicotti said then I agree with you, the issue is this ESPN report insinuates a cover up. I am assuming the truth is somewhere in between.

 

What did you think of Ray Lewis' comments. He said he was ashamed of what has happened and this was not the type of legacy he left behind. I thought it was a low blow shot at his team given his legal troubles back in 2000.

[The Old Crow]

How on earth is this about people wanting to see heads roll? Again, there is a terrible mishandling of this situation by the Ravens and a possible cover up. Serious business IMO if that latter is true especially. Do you believe the league and public should just turn a blind eye?

Look at all the mishandling with the Vikings. What needs to be done out of this whole mess is a template with penalties on how the NFL and teams deal with these types of player issues. Of course the public shouldn't turn a blind eye, put some elements of the press , seeking ratings , just keep stoking the fire with shaky conspiratorial stories.

[amfootball]

Look at all the mishandling with the Vikings. What needs to be done out of this whole mess is a template with penalties on how the NFL and teams deal with these types of player issues. Of course the public shouldn't turn a blind eye, put some elements of the press , seeking ratings , just keep stoking the fire with shaky conspiratorial stories.

I could not agree more with your first sentence but that does not exonerate teams from handling these offense better. Remember the teams have the power to do whatever they want with their players.

 

The ESPN article was an investigative report which is exactly what the press is supposed to do. That is not sensationalism. The editors said they talked to more than 20 sources both within the Ravens organization and the league.

[The Old Crow]

No other team to my knowledge has ever been involved in this type of situation with a videotape of a crime available. To your point, if everything is as Bisicotti said then I agree with you, the issue is this ESPN report insinuates a cover up. I am assuming the truth is somewhere in between.

What did you think of Ray Lewis' comments. He said he was ashamed of what has happened and this was not the type of legacy he left behind. I thought it was a low blow shot at his team given his legal troubles back in 2000.

Ray Lewis would be wise to keep his mouth shut. Because Ozzie Newsome believes in redemption from mistakes, Ray was able to have a Hall of Fame career. Ray Rice will never have the chance Ray Lewis or Chris Carter had to turn their careers around , because in this day and age with the press, you are finished. He is player zero on videotape crimes, and the poster boy for battery. He deserves his punishment , but should it last forever, and does he deserve a second chance like others , if he keeps clean, and turns his life around ?

[The Old Crow]

I could not agree more with your first sentence but that does not exonerate teams from handling these offense better. Remember the teams have the power to do whatever they want with their players.

The ESPN article was an investigative report which is exactly what the press is supposed to do. That is not sensationalism. The editors said they talked to more than 20 sources both within the Ravens organization and the league.

I'm glad you brought that up. Van Natta is on Mike and Mike now going on and on about these unimpeachable 20 sources that no one can interview . Do you think at this level Bisciotti, Newsome, and Cass are sharing their plans with 20 people ? Name your sources ! Then he goes on about how the Ravens should have done more to get the video tape. Well, Bisciotti admitted that before this schlock story they should have done more to get the tape. So these guys put a conspiratorial spin on things after Bisciotti already admitted they should have done more. This unnamed 20 source thing is bogus. Who are these guys , the janitors ?

[amfootball]

Ray Lewis would be wise to keep his mouth shut. Because Ozzie Newsome believes in redemption from mistakes, Ray was able to have a Hall of Fame career. Ray Rice will never have the chance Ray Lewis or Chris Carter had to turn their careers around , because in this day and age with the press, you are finished. He is player zero on videotape crimes, and the poster boy for battery. He deserves his punishment , but should it last forever, and does he deserve a second chance like others , if he keeps clean, and turns his life around ?

Mike Vick got a second chance in this media age and he was convicted and went to jail. Gregg Williams got a second chance after spearheading the BountyGate fiasco. I believe Rice will get a second chance if he is reinstated next year which I believe he will be.

[amfootball]

I'm glad you brought that up. Van Natta is on Mike and Mike now going on and on about these unimpeachable 20 sources that no one can interview . Do you think at this level Bisciotti, Newsome, and Cass are sharing their plans with 20 people ? Name your sources ! Then he goes on about how the Ravens should have done more to get the video tape. Well, Bisciotti admitted that before this schlock story they should have done more to get the tape. So these guys put a conspiratorial spin on things after Bisciotti already admitted they should have done more. This unnamed 20 source thing is bogus. Who are these guys , the janitors ?

The media is under no obligation to share their sources. The sources spoke under the condition of anonymity.Natta did say he interviewed a man in Ravens security who was given the play by play of what happened in that elevator. This means the Ravens knew what happened before the second video was released which is contrary to what Bisciotti is saying.

 

I worked in the media for many years. I will say this. The tic tock timeline that ESPN gave is not made up. They could not have gotten the information without interviewing those closest to the situation. Again, this is not an opinion piece but an investigative report.

[The Old Crow]

Mike Vick got a second chance in this media age and he was convicted and went to jail. Gregg Williams got a second chance after spearheading the BountyGate fiasco. I believe Rice will get a second chance if he is reinstated next year which I believe he will be.

He may, but he is on videotape. That is the outrage in this media driven society. Both Rice and his wife were extremely drunk that night. We can only hope it was an isolated incident , and it will never happen again. Before this , for five years, he was a great role model in the local community , and did many great things. I think the Ravens could have done more, but like with Ray Lewis, wanted to give the guy a chance at redemption after he served his punishment. Bisciotti believes most of these unnamed sources in this story are Ray Rice's lawyer, and friends, maneuvering for reinstatement. He said he doesn't blame Rice for this. I hope the guy gets help, turns his life around, and gets a second chance.

[The Old Crow]

The media is under no obligation to share their sources. The sources spoke under the condition of anonymity.Natta did say he interviewed a man in Ravens security who was given the play by play of what happened in that elevator. This means the Ravens knew what happened before the second video was released which is contrary to what Bisciotti is saying.

I worked in the media for many years. I will say this. The tic tock timeline that ESPN gave is not made up. They could not have gotten the information without interviewing those closest to the situation. Again, this is not an opinion piece but an investigative report.

Bisciotti talked about this also and said the original video was grainy and not as clear as the final TMZ video, which was edited. I was in journalism also, and I understand about the sources, but the Ravens rebutted many of the allegations, or had previously apologized for them, and all the other two newsmen can do is to keep going on about their unimpeachable , unnamed sources. We are left to believe these so called security people, insiders, got the story right 100 % , without being able to interview them. With most of the crappy journalism I see routinely out there , I'm not giving these guys the benefit of the doubt when Bisciotti rebutted them , and they just go on and on about vague sources

[amfootball]

He may, but he is on videotape. That is the outrage in this media driven society. Both Rice and his wife were extremely drunk that night. We can only hope it was an isolated incident , and it will never happen again. Before this , for five years, he was a great role model in the local community , and did many great things. I think the Ravens could have done more, but like with Ray Lewis, wanted to give the guy a chance at redemption after he served his punishment. Bisciotti believes most of these unnamed sources in this story are Ray Rice's lawyer, and friends, maneuvering for reinstatement. He said he doesn't blame Rice for this. I hope the guy gets help, turns his life around, and gets a second chance.

Some actions have lifelong consequences. He hit her in a public place with cameras everywhere. I still think he plays again next year. And again, the media outrage was NOT the video but the fact that when the second video was aired, Rice had only received a two game suspension and now we are in the midst of all the back peddling from the league and now the Ravens on the handling of the situation and the appearance of a cover up and/or a ridiculous level of incompetence.

[amfootball]

Bisciotti talked about this also and said the original video was grainy and not as clear as the final TMZ video, which was edited. I was in journalism also, and I understand about the sources, but the Ravens rebutted many of the allegations, or had previously apologized for them, and all the other two newsmen can do is to keep going on about their unimpeachable , unnamed sources. We are left to believe these so called security people, insiders, got the story right 100 % , without being able to interview them. With most of the crappy journalism I see routinely out there , I'm not giving these guys the benefit of the doubt when Bisciotti rebutted them , and they just go on and on about vague sources

If I was Bisciott's PR rep, I would have recommended against the PC at this time because his only defense was to say the report was orchestrated by Rice's camp. Ay! Ay! Ay!  You can't, can't get in front of the public and say that.

 

ESPN is maintaining the legitimacy of its sources and their report is very, very specific. A tick tock of everything. If I was the Ravens, I would do my own tick tock report of what happened to prove the ESPN is as false as they claim.

[The Old Crow]

Some actions have lifelong consequences. He hit her in a public place with cameras everywhere. I still think he plays again next year. And again, the media outrage was NOT the video but the fact that when the second video was aired, Rice had only received a two game suspension and now we are in the midst of all the back peddling from the league and now the Ravens on the handling of the situation and the appearance of a cover up and/or a ridiculous level of incompetence.

Look, there is always mess ups by the league or a team, when you are in uncharted waters like this . The lesson is to lay out harsh penalties on these various offenses that is known to all players , owners, and others in the league. That way It is handled uniformly across the board. With all the PR horrors going on in Baltimore and Minnesota, look at Florida State playing with fire with their quarterback down there. The other thing we haven't discussed is societal , where top athletes get excused for horrible behavior, just taken care of, just because they are great players. We know this happens at high school, college, and the pros. Maybe this will help change things.

[amfootball]

Look, there is always mess ups by the league or a team, when you are in uncharted waters like this . The lesson is to lay out harsh penalties on these various offenses that is known to all players , owners, and others in the league. That way It is handled uniformly across the board. With all the PR horrors going on in Baltimore and Minnesota, look at Florida State playing with fire with their quarterback down there. The other thing we haven't discussed is societal , where top athletes get excused for horrible behavior, just taken care of, just because they are great players. We know this happens at high school, college, and the pros. Maybe this will help change things.

I was saying this on the NFL Corrupt thread last week. You have to have consistency the way you do with the drug policy. The league needs to come up with a moral policy and penalties document so everyone knows how to act otherwise you are set up for failure. I think Roger talked about doing this at his PC. They really have to at this point.

[The Old Crow]

If I was Bisciott's PR rep, I would have recommended against the PC at this time because his only defense was to say the report was orchestrated by Rice's camp. Ay! Ay! Ay! You can't, can't get in front of the public and say that.

ESPN is maintaining the legitimacy of its sources and their report is very, very specific. A tick tock of everything. If I was the Ravens, I would do my own tick tock report of what happened to prove the ESPN is as false as they claim.

The Ravens did, they went point by point in a report , and rebutted everything that they felt was wrong. I don't agree at all the ESPN story is specific at all, with all unnamed sources. How can it be specific when you can't cross examine these people about their accuracy. Maybe they got the story wrong, or interpreted something wrong.

Bisciotti got up in front of the press without a PR guy or handlers, and in my opinion, was stand up, and answered all questions honestly. I mean, he said and apologized that they should have done more to get the tape. But ESPN wants to keep this story alive with a conspiratorial angle. It would be fine if they had solid facts, but they have all unnamed sources. To totally believe them, you have to believe ESPN has total journalistic credibility. Well, from the past , there is a reason they have entertainment in their trade name.

[The Old Crow]

I was saying this on the NFL Corrupt thread last week. You have to have consistency the way you do with the drug policy. The league needs to come up with a moral policy and penalties document so everyone knows how to act otherwise you are set up for failure. I think Roger talked about doing this at his PC. They really have to at this point.

You know from my previous posts, I'm not a homer just defending Rice and the Ravens. As a fan, I know mistakes were made , and Ray and the organization are getting justifiable criticism from all sides, myself included. We all know out of all of this crap, this stuff has to stop, and we need real rules in place in the NFL. That is where we should be heading, not going into some conspiratorial purgatory for the sake of media ratings.

[amfootball]

The Ravens did, they went point by point in a report , and rebutted everything that they felt was wrong. I don't agree at all the ESPN story is specific at all, with all unnamed sources. How can it be specific when you can't cross examine these people about their accuracy. Maybe they got the story wrong, or interpreted something wrong.

Bisciotti got up in front of the press without a PR guy or handlers, and in my opinion, was stand up, and answered all questions honestly. I mean, he said and apologized that they should have done more to get the tape. But ESPN wants to keep this story alive with a conspiratorial angle. It would be fine if they had solid facts, but they have all unnamed sources. To totally believe them, you have to believe ESPN has total journalistic credibility. Well, from the past , there is a reason they have entertainment in their trade name.

It does not matter if the report is 100 percent true. It is there and the Ravens had to react accordingly. I think it was a mistake for him to get up there without PR handlers. You never want to do that as an exec and seem as reactionary as he did and unprepared. I am not sure what he was trying to accomplish but it came off really poorly and he actually made ESPN look good which is hard to do.

[The Old Crow]

It does not matter if the report is 100 percent true. It is there and the Ravens had to react accordingly. I think it was a mistake for him to get up there without PR handlers. You never want to do that as an exec and seem as reactionary as he did and unprepared. I am not sure what he was trying to accomplish but it came off really poorly and he actually made ESPN look good which is hard to do.

Many think he came off very well. ESPN has been relatively quiet as the Ravens owner rebutted the assertions that were not correct. Harbaugh, who has great credibility and integrity, backed up what Steve said, despite the story . But I guess that unnamed source is more credible than Harbaugh.

I like the fact that he got up and answered all questions. He answered all questions before in a previous interview with James Brown , and had already put out the Ravens story in print, before this schlock story came out. He had to again repeat himself again to answer the Inside Edition type story. No, in my mind, ESPN has a bit of a bloody nose after being confronted by facts . I think he did better than any lawyer or handler could. It was honest and genuine.

[OffensivelyPC]

I hate those unnamed sources in sports stories

No credibility imo

Especially when those unnamed sources supply the most critical points in their story.  It's hard for me to believe the narrative, especially one as big as this, when you're hiding behind unnamed sources.  I get why people give comments on the condition of anonymity, but when you're making such serious accusations - ones later called out by the counter-party as false, no less - the truth and veracity of those comments should be capable of verification.  Even just knowing their names and job titles would go along way in deteriming whether these sources would have actually been people who would have heard what they claim to be hearing.

[amfootball]

Many think he came off very well. ESPN has been relatively quiet as the Ravens owner rebutted the assertions that were not correct. Harbaugh, who has great credibility and integrity, backed up what Steve said, despite the story . But I guess that unnamed source is more credible than Harbaugh.

I like the fact that he got up and answered all questions. He answered all questions before in a previous interview with James Brown , and had already put out the Ravens story in print, before this schlock story came out. He had to again repeat himself again to answer the Inside Edition type story. No, in my mind, ESPN has a bit of a bloody nose after being confronted by facts . I think he did better than any lawyer or handler could. It was honest and genuine.

I don't know Crow. I didn't see it that way. I thought he came off as reactionary, defensive, and accusatory.

[The Old Crow]

Especially when those unnamed sources supply the most critical points in their story. It's hard for me to believe the narrative, especially one as big as this, when you're hiding behind unnamed sources. I get why people give comments on the condition of anonymity, but when you're making such serious accusations - ones later called out by the counter-party as false, no less - the truth and veracity of those comments should be capable of verification. Even just knowing their names and job titles would go along way in deteriming whether these sources would have actually been people who would have heard what they claim to be hearing.

Excellent post !

[The Old Crow]

I don't know Crow. I didn't see it that way. I thought he came off as reactionary, defensive, and accusatory.

Everyone has different perceptions , but I thought he was genuine, commanding, and had a good grasp of the facts. There is some stuff in the media today, but it seems to have really quieted, especially at ESPN.

[Superman]

Huh? I was talking about the Ravens suspending Rice on their own for his actions rather than waiting for the league. It was ridiculous for him to say that he thought the league was going to give out a 4-6 game suspension and was surprised it was only 2. He HAD the power to suspend Rice all along if he thought the offense deserved more games,

 

So then who is blaming Ray Rice for how the Ravens mishandled the situation? Steve Bisciotti took blame for his mismanagement, and never put the blame on Rice.

[Superman]

How on earth is this about people wanting to see heads roll? Again, there is a terrible mishandling of this situation by the Ravens and a possible cover up. Serious business IMO if that latter is true especially. Do you believe the league and public should just turn a blind eye?

 

EVERYONE wants to see heads roll, and any comments pretending that's not the case aren't worthy of response.

 

I never said the league and public should just turn a blind eye.

[amfootball]

So then who is blaming Ray Rice for how the Ravens mishandled the situation? Steve Bisciotti took blame for his mismanagement, and never put the blame on Rice.

He was blaming Rice's camp for the ESPN article.

[amfootball]

EVERYONE wants to see heads roll, and any comments pretending that's not the case aren't worthy of response.

 

I never said the league and public should just turn a blind eye.

Not true. I won't anticipate a response.

[Superman]

He was blaming Rice's camp for the ESPN article.

Blame is the wrong word, but there is zero question that the OTL article is powered by Rice sympathizers.

[amfootball]

Blame is the wrong word, but there is zero question that the OTL article is powered by Rice sympathizers.

Bafoonery yet again at the exec level is what that report shows. The owner admitted as much when he did his mea culpa to start the cofnerence. Whether or not that makes Rice appear sympathetic is irrelevant.

[Superman]

Bafoonery yet again at the exec level is what that report shows. The owner admitted as much when he did his mea culpa to start the cofnerence. Whether or not that makes Rice appear sympathetic is irrelevant.

 

And when did Bisciotti "blame" Ray Rice for that buffoonery? Because what I heard was him taking accountability for that buffoonery.

[The Old Crow]

Blame is the wrong word, but there is zero question that the OTL article is powered by Rice sympathizers.

He actually said he fully understood what the Rice camp was doing to get reinstated . He didn't blame them , but understood the tactics. By the way, the ESPN article got the texts wrong. People need to read them the actual texts that Bisciotti freely released to the press. Steve and Ozzie genuinely feel bad what happened to Ray's wife , and the situation Ray put himself into. They want redemption for him, and that was the context of the texts, not a bribe. Rice is still getting plenty of money despite the release by Steve. I think Steve and Ozzie hope after Ray gets counseling, some time in the future he could talk to younger players about the consequences of committing domestic violence. ESPN took a lot of liberties in this article.

[amfootball]

And when did Bisciotti "blame" Ray Rice for that buffoonery? Because what I heard was him taking accountability for that buffoonery.

He said the report was engineered by Rice's camp so he could help his case to get reinstated. There is no proof of that whatsoever. He took that out of his rear end. EPSN said they interviewed more than 20 people from inside the Ravens organization and the league. He did take accountability for the buffoonery as well which is what you are mistaking as sympathy for Rice.

[amfootball]

He actually said he fully understood what the Rice camp was doing to get reinstated . He didn't blame them , but understood the tactics. By the way, the ESPN article got the texts wrong. People need to read them the actual texts that Bisciotti freely released to the press. Steve and Ozzie genuinely feel bad what happened to Ray's wife , and the situation Ray put himself into. They want redemption for him, and that was the context of the texts, not a bribe. Rice is still getting plenty of money despite the release by Steve. I think Steve and Ozzie hope after Ray gets counseling, some time in the future he could talk to younger players about the consequences of committing domestic violence. ESPN took a lot of liberties in this article.

If this is ALL true then why isn't Rice talking about it? I would think he would affirm all their good intentions and good will. Crickets.

[The Old Crow]

Bafoonery yet again at the exec level is what that report shows. The owner admitted as much when he did his mea culpa to start the cofnerence. Whether or not that makes Rice appear sympathetic is irrelevant.

Look no organization is perfect as the Patriots well know. What else do you want the Ravens and Bisciotti to do ? They got the facts out, apologized for their shortcomings. and are trying to turn a negative situation into a positive by being part of the solution with the NFL.

[Superman]

He actually said he fully understood what the Rice camp was doing to get reinstated . He didn't blame them , but understood the tactics. By the way, the ESPN article got the texts wrong. People need to read them the actual texts that Bisciotti freely released to the press. Steve and Ozzie genuinely feel bad what happened to Ray's wife , and the situation Ray put himself into. They want redemption for him, and that was the context of the texts, not a bribe. Rice is still getting plenty of money despite the release by Steve. I think Steve and Ozzie hope after Ray gets counseling, some time in the future he could talk to younger players about the consequences of committing domestic violence. ESPN took a lot of liberties in this article.

 

Bisciotti didn't release all the texts, so I do have a gripe with him there. He should have released a full transcript of his text messages with Rice, redacting any personal information as appropriate. But the texts he did release paint a much different picture than the texts that OTL alluded to.

 

And yes, OTL took a LOT of liberties. Something that made me roll my eyes was the part about the golf club membership. Tons of conjecture and speculation.

[The Old Crow]

If this is ALL true then why isn't Rice talking about it? I would think he would affirm all their good intentions and good will. Crickets.

If you heard the press conference , he's being advised by lawyers to get reinstated. Read the texts between Bisviotti and Rice, and you will see the goodwill.