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Rice controversy leaves commissioner’s future in jeopardy

Nick Giannino
Assistant Editor

Roger Goodell has been under serious fire lately.

Just a day after the Baltimore Ravens’ season opener, a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in which running back Ray Rice sat out, serving the first game of his two game suspension, TMZ released a video where Rice can be seen punching his then-fiancée in the face and knocking her out.

The video stems from an altercation On Feb. 15, 2014, between Rice and his now-wife Janay Palmer. At the time of the incident, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell chose to suspend Rice for the first two games of the 2014 regular season, a seemingly lenient punishment for a serious violent act.

While the short suspension was criticized for quite some time, it was nothing compared to what was to follow.

Fast forward almost seven months and Rice seemed to be off the hook, abiding by his suspension and going about things quietly. The issue seemed to be dying down.

But when TMZ chose to release the video, it took the dwindling issue to a new level.

The disturbing video was caught on surveillance camera in the hotel elevator and was allegedly released to Goodell back in April. Thus began the biggest off-field controversy the league has seen in years.

The video, which, once released, could be seen on ESPN and news channels everywhere you looked, forced the Ravens to cut their starting running back. On top of that, Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely from the NFL.

While the NFL originally denied seeing the video before the TMZ release, the Associated Press reported two days later that the NFL was sent the full tape back in April.

Although nobody yet knows the truth behind this video controversy, Goodell’s future with the league remains unsure, as well as Rice’s playing career.