That's what I thought too, but ESPN (Jeremy Schapp, I think) slowed the tape and zoomed in to show Ray Rice actually spit in Janay's face as she walked by him. That's when she retaliated by extended her left arm and lightly tapping his left cheek with the back of her left hand. She didn't seem to break stride as she walked toward the elevator. Rice then followed her and they both entered the elevator. As soon as the doors began closing, Rice spit in her face again then slapped her. We all know what happened next.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VbwTMJroTbI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> It's not slow mo, but it's the best I could find. @ 0:08 you can see Rice spitting in Janay's face outside the elevator. Her reaction was to swing her left arm in an attempt to slap Rice. @ 0:25 you can see him spit in her face again. It's difficult to see on TV, but replaying it on youtube makes it easier.
If he spit at 0:08, why didn't she wipe it off. The parts in the elevator were smoothed out from the jerky raw video that TMZ received. They posted the raw video on their website too. Raw Video: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qkAiDoIc1I4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
What I find amazing is that anyone in the NFL would think that they could 'contain' this kind of scandal in today's modern age of e-mail, voice mail and camera phones. That Goodell would think that he could say that the NFL never got the tape and think that it would stand under scrutiny is ridiculously laughable. IF the AP report is confirmed, this is the thread that will cause the rest to unravel. When ever news organization on the planet has their sights on you, they WILL find out what happened. My money is on Goodell is completely cooked. It's just a question of time...
There's been over 50 players with domestic violence incidents under Goodell's watch before Ray Rice and this is the first time people are collectively outraged about it... It's the videos. Without videos they didn't care about the other guys who got arrested and probably didn't go to jail either and still have their careers. Goodell has to pay for the sins of a society while the justice system gets a pass... Ironically before the Ray Rice video people were more outraged about Vick being in the NFL than the 50 other dudes that hit women, the drinking and driving killers, and the illegal drug users _ and Vick is the one who got 20 months in jail. I guess dogs are more important. Smells kind of fishy... May be a David Stern setup.
The sickening thing about the video is Ray didn't show any remorse after hitting her. His reaction was more like "damn I don't want anybody to catch me with this body" while dragging the body like he was about to dump it somewhere like on the Sopranos. Athletes think their untouchable all the time but we all know one huge mistake could end their livelihood. I think his career is over in the NFL. There's no way a team would take the added scrutiny to bring him back into an organization right?
This. Thanks for getting the story correct. Ray Rice is clearly the instigator in this whole debacle. Shame on the few posters who have tried to say otherwise, going as far as to say Ray Rice was acting in self defense. One more, Godell is either incompetent or a lier. Either way he should be removed from his job.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/nflcommish">@nflcommish</a> ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun huh?</p>— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) <a href="https://twitter.com/jharrison9292/status/509832809570377729">September 10, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/nfl">@NFL</a> Commissioner Roger Goodell announces ex-FBI director Robert Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation into Rice situation</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/509896047532212224">September 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The focus of the independent investigation will be handling of the Rice evidence. John Mara & Art Rooney will oversee the investigation.</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/509896425208295425">September 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Goodell pledges full cooperation to ex-FBI director Mueller, including access to all <a href="https://twitter.com/nfl">@NFL</a> records. Final report will be made public.</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/509896780293869568">September 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And not just for this. I've never seen a commissioner so aggressive at changing the game. Every year he's proposing some new rule idea or something that would change the game. If he's still the commish for much longer Football will look to be something else entirely at this rate.
Why is everyone all of a sudden jumping on the "Fire Goodell" bandwagon I created earlier in the thread? Because it came out that the NFL had the tape? No **** they had the tape. It would be silly to think the NFL didnt have it when TMZ had it. Goodell is a ****ing coward.
