Ravens Owner Says Rice Leaked Info To ESPN for Investigation

By now, if you are following the ongoing saga of the NFL and Ray Rice, you are probably aware of a story released by ESPN's Outside the Lines saying the Ravens knew everything and tried help hide the existence of the damning "elevator" video.

In case you haven't read it, you can read the Don Van Natta and Kevin Van Valkenburg investigation RIGHT HERE

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti came out firing, accusing Rice, his friends and his defense team of leaking information, trying to help build a case for Rice to return to football at some point in time.

He also publicly apologized for not following through and trying to look at the video inside the elevator at the New Jersey Casino. He admitted he was wrong and and wishes he could do it over again.

Bisciotti simultaneously released a letter to the Ravens fan base which is posted on their website: (A brief summary)

--Bisciotti reiterates this: "As I stated to you in my letter on September 9th, we did not do all we should have done and no amount of explanation can remedy that. But there has been no misdirection or misinformation by the Ravens"

--A statement by Ravens head of security Darren Sanders who is been alleged to have seen or informed of the inside the elevator video shortly after Ray Rice punched Janay Rice in the elevator:

“I did not receive an account of what happened in the elevator “within hours” of the incident.  Within a couple of days, I asked the casino and the Atlantic City Police Department for a copy of any videotape of the incident.  They said they could not release a copy of the videotape to me.  Some days later—I believe it was on February 25—I spoke to an Atlantic City police official again, asking again whether I could get a copy of the tape or, if not, whether I could come to his New Jersey office and view it. He said I could not, but he did offer to view the tape and describe what he saw."

---A statement by team G.M Ozzie Newsome who is alleged to have been told exactly what happened by Rice.

“I did not receive an account of what happened in the elevator “within hours” of the incident.  Within a couple of days, I asked the casino and the Atlantic City Police Department for a copy of any videotape of the incident.  They said they could not release a copy of the videotape to me.  Some days later—I believe it was on February 25—I spoke to an Atlantic City police official again, asking again whether I could get a copy of the tape or, if not, whether I could come to his New Jersey office and view it. He said I could not, but he did offer to view the tape and describe what he 
saw. "

--And then this, countering the allegation Bisciotti offered Rice a job after releasing him. And that the offer was made for "hush" money:

“I did not receive an account of what happened in the elevator “within hours” of the incident.  Within a couple of days, I asked the casino and the Atlantic City Police Department for a copy of any videotape of the incident.  They said they could not release a copy of the videotape to me.  Some days later—I believe it was on February 25—I spoke to an Atlantic City police official again, asking again whether I could get a copy of the tape or, if not, whether I could come to his New Jersey office and view it. He said I could not, but he did offer to view the tape and describe what he saw. "

You can read the entire statement countering all points of the article RIGHT HERE

Bisciotti spent a good portion of the time talking about his surprise the NFL did not know about the video and not thinking to ask Rice's lawyer, who DID have the tape, to see it.

He also got emotional denying that he lobbied NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for a shorter suspension for Rice initially saying, "Why would I do that?" "I played golf with the commissioner but nobody has ever accused us of being friends" "I expected a 4-6 game suspension for Ray, not 2"

Another strong statement: The NFL has never escalated domestic violence to the level of bar fights and drugs. And to be honest, he's right. He's done a strong job of stating the NFL's weakness, inequity and lack of a strong discipline policy. He also said this is a great opportunity for the league and for Goodell to take the lead and change and elevate the response to domestic violence.

To his credit, Bisciotti was quite a bit more open and emotional than NFL commissioner Roger Goodell when talking about the issue. He did not hide behind vagueness, he was upset he and his team's integrity was being questioned. And his team came prepared to repute every aspect of ESPN's report.

We suspect the truth in this matter, like most, lies somewhere between these two stories. But props to Bisciotti and the Ravens team for being prepared and able to explain every accusation.

We hope to god this is the end of the lengthy press conferences about this subject. It happened. It was horrible. A lot of people made a lot of mistakes. Let's find out who did and when the time is right, release the information.

But until then, we are ready for the Sports world to move on.

ESPN Eviscerates Ravens and NFL's Ray Rice Explanation

((ht: espn.com))

Oh boy! Nothing like dropping a bombshell on a Friday night. But man, if you are following the saga of the NFL, Baltimore Ravens and how they handled the Ray Rice incident, this is huge.

ESPN's Outside the Line produced a detailed report that went into great behind the scenes detail to explain what the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL may or may not have known while investigating now former Raven Ray Rice.

You can read their fantastically detailed report RIGHT HERE

Yeah...

The report cites multiple sources who say the Ravens knew quite a bit more about what happened than they let on. But they gave Rice the benefit of the doubt because of the good deeds he'd done for them.

But it also details Rice's lawyer seeing the videotape long before it was made public and making the team aware of it. In fact, they apparently knew just hours after the February incident, exactly what happened. Which DIRECTLY contradicts what team owner Steve Bisciotti has gone on the record saying.

It also speaks about Ravens coach John Harbaugh wanting Rice gone immediately after hearing about what happened. Harbaugh was overruled by team president Dick Cass and G.M Ozzie Newsome. Harbaugh apparently tried again when two other players got in trouble to cut those two along with Rice. Again he was overruled. This all happened before the video became public.

Essentially, the report calls the Ravens liars.

And Roger Goodell along with his investigators are not spared. While not saying Goodell himself actually saw the video, the NFL itself was apparently well aware of what happened. The report does portray Goodell as regretting his decision early in the process, but he eventually bowed to pressure from the Ravens to do them a favor.

Again, you REALLY need to watch this report. If you thought highly of the NFL and their credibility before, this should end it. Of course the Jolly Roger's press conference on Friday didn't help things much either.

Here's your video story from ESPN.com:

Maryland Legislator vs. Ravens player on same sex marriage

((ht: wbaltv.com))

Yeah, you are probably asking yourself after reading the headline WTF?

According to a report by Maryland TV Station WBAL, Maryland legislator Emmett Burns is angry at Brendon Ayanbadejo.

The reason, Ayanbadejo made public his support for Maryland's same-sex marriage law.

That law will be put to Maryland voters in November.

It appears, Mr. Burns took umbrage with Ayanbadejo's stance and wrote a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti complaining about it. Among Mr. Burns's statments..."I believe Mr. Ayanbadejo should concentrate on football and steer clear of dividing the fan base."He added, "I am requesting that you take the necessary action as a NFL Franchise owner, to inhibit such expressions from you employee and that he be ordered to cease and desist such injurious actions."

Seriously? You actually made this public Mr. Burns?

Read the whole letter courtesy WBAL RIGHT HERE

It appears Mr. Burns's ire was raised when he saw this video posted on YouTube by a group called Marylanders for Marriage Equality:



Okay. Before anybody chimes in with Political Rhetoric, this isn't about that. Whether you support it or are against it is your choice and nobody else's.

No, the issue here is with what Mr. Burns is trying to tell the Ravens.

Who exactly does he think Ayanbadejo speak for? And what qualifies Mr. Burns to say any "Employer" should inhibit the "Free Speech" expressions from an employee?

Last we checked...at least as of right now, Ayanbadejo and anyone else who wants to take a stance about an issue has a right to do it. Politicians, least of all, the small minded ones like Mr. Burns have no place saying what he said. Does he consider the Ravens Linebacker a slave? Does he consider him a simple minded minion?

Really, this pisses us off, a lot!

What we or anyone else feels about a political issue is OUR business, not anyone else's. It make us beyond angry to see how POLARIZED everyone has become over political issues. Whether they are right or wrong is irrelevant, people have a right to their opinion. It ANGERS us to no end that politicians have resorted to absolute pandering to the lowest common denominator. We actually saw a "Radio Host" post on his Facebook page that Democrats shouldn't be able to celebrate July 4th because they weren't qualified to have a patriotic voice. Really, it was said.

We aren't taking sides in this, both are guilty of senseless name calling, outlandish statements and basically saying that anyone not with us, is the ENEMY. We all live in the same country folks and for generations, we may not have agreed, but we agreed that everyone is entitled to their own opinion that we all were allowed to have our own beliefs.

But politicians like Mr. Burns, if they get there way, we'll become a mindless society that persecutes anyone who isn't like minded. And if that doesn't make you angry or worried, well, then, you probably are long past anyone helping you.

Sorry for the rant.

For some reason all we could think of when we read this about Mr. Emmett Burns, was this: