Quote Originally Posted by Patler View Post
It's so arbitrary with the NFL that it is starting to drive me crazy.
3irty1 hit the nail on the head. Rice isn't band because of doestic violence. He's banned because of a video. If there had been video, lots of Packers would have been banned over the years.

So domestic abuse in the privacy of your home might get you as short suspension. Domestic abuse in public gets you banned, but only if there is video.
Yes. This is true. Like it or hate it, the level of certainty in the culpability, as well as the public perception seems to be a large factor. That being said, this is not a criminal proceeding where it is mostly a yes or no verdict. Here, the punishment can be adjusted based upon the certainty culpability as well as on other factors, such as the possible effect on the bottom line of the league ($$). Is it really so different than any other business?