My Thoughts on The Ray Rice Debacle, and My Week 2 NFL Picks

Seems like everyone and their grandmother is being accused of some form of domestic violence ever since the TMZ video of Ray Rice surfaced.  The only thing anyone can talk about in association with the NFL is domestic violence.  According to Sports Illustrated, 14 NFL players have been arrested or charged with some form of domestic violence in the past two years,  so why does this case seem to jump out at us so much more than the others?  My guess, is that unlike the other cases, the Ray Rice situation had viral video to go along with it.  In no way shape or form, does that make the other cases any less important, we've just latched on to Ray Rice because we were actually able to see the Money Mayweather style left hook he threw.  There has been no shortage of opinions on the events in question, so here's my two cents

What Ray Rice did was deplorable.  Domestic violence in any form is reprehensible and should be punished.  As far a legal action goes, his wife did not press charges, so the legal end of things is kind of murky.  Without a complaining witness, there is not much that law enforcement can do.  As far as the man loosing his job over what happened, I believe that is was the absolute right thing for the Ravens to do.  When Ray Rice decided to be an NFL player, he accepted the responsibility and visibility that goes along with it.  He has young men and children watching his every move, and so if the Ravens had not shown that there were consequences for his actions, these young men would have gotten the impression that Ray Rice's actions were acceptable.  Public figures have a responsibility to project a public image which is good an beneficial for those who watch and admire them.  That's my two cents.

With that said, I'm going to get down off my soap box, and get down to NFL week 2.

Last week pretty much burned mine, and most vegas book makers predictions to the ground.  So many upsets, so little time.  I think after compiling last weeks data though, this week should be a bit more solid.  My thursday prediction about the Ravens was right, so lets see how the rest do.

NFL Week 2

			Winner	Spread		Vegas Spreads	Vegas Moneyline	My Bet
PIT	@	BAL	BAL	5.78		BAL -2.5	-135\+120	BAL Spread
DET	@	CAR	DET	1.45		CAR -3	-160\+140	DET money
BUF	@	MIA	MIA	2.24		Buffalo PK	--	MIA Money
JAX	@	WAS	WAS	4.77		WAS -6	-250\+215	WAS Spread
DAL	@	TEN	TEN	4.32		TEN -3.5	-185\+165	TEN Spread
ARI	@	NYG	ARI	0.64		ARI -2.5	-135\+120	ARI Spread
NE	@	MIN	MIN	0.60		NE -6	-250\+215	MIN Spread
NO	@	CLE	CLE	3.30		NO -6	-250\+215	CLE Spread
ATL	@	CIN	CIN	2.82		CIN -5.5	-240\+205	CIN Spread
STL	@	TB	STL	1.55		TB -6	-250\+215	STL Spread
SEA	@	SD	SEA	0.09		SEA -6	-250\+215	SEA Spread
HOU	@	OAK	OAK	5.85		HOU -3	-160\+140	OAK Money
NYJ	@	GB	GB	3.62		GB -8	-345\+285	GB Spread
KC	@	DEN	DEN	2.15		DEN -12	-680\+515	DEN Spread
CHI	@	SF	SF	3.44		SF -6.5	-280\+240	SF Spread
PHI	@	IND	IND	5.46		IND -3	-160\+140	IND Spread