When we saw the initial TMZ video footage of Ray Rice dragging his then fiancé out of the elevator, everyone knew what had happened inside. Perhaps not every detail, but for a certainty we all knew (a) she was knocked out, and (b) Ray had done the knocking. That was an awful thing for him to do, inexcusable. His now wife, Janay, forgave him, publicly pled his case, married him, and has gone about trying to live life with the world knowing this happened, and the world surmising that it wasn’t the first time, while hoping it was the last time.

Enter the NFL. The response to this tragic circumstance outraged not just me, but everyone who does not agree with violence against women. The condemnation for a two game suspension as the consequence was swift and deafening. In response, Roger Goodell apologized on behalf of himself and the league, admitted he had gotten it wrong, and promised to review the NFL policies with respect to domestic violence. Nothing wrong with that, on the surface. Underlying that admission was the continued interest in the circumstances surrounding what we saw, i.e. what actually happened in the elevator. How could the NFL possibly think the world would return to weekly highlight footage and forget about the confrontation in that elevator?

Those taking a hard line on domestic violence were not satisfied with the apology, and unmoved by the marriage and seeming contrition with respect to the couple involved. Others, apologists for the cowardly act of exerting one’s physical strength against a woman, continued to suggest that the actual confrontation probably included mitigating circumstances to justify Ray’s actions. The NFL should have been worried out of its wits. Then, as would be the case, humor set it, and those reminded of the plight of one Jay Z evidenced in elevator footage of Solange’s onslaught – in an elevator – began to link Ray and Solange for the sake of a few laughs. Others weren’t laughing, among them, the folks at TMZ. They seized the opportunity to release the footage from inside the elevator. What that evidenced was the knockout punch and Janay’s succumbing to it, difficult to watch. Moreover, Ray’s attitude toward her was evidenced. He stepped over her, moving her limp body at one point with his foot. Were it not for the intervention of hotel security personnel, she might have even suffered the further indignity of the elevator door closing on her person. The outrage was immediate, and predictable.

The reaction of the Baltimore Ravens organization and the NFL were also predictable. First, the Ravens got rid of Ray Rice, cancelling his contract. On the heels of that, the NFL suspended him indefinitely. Rightly so, several players and other public personalities have spoken out, condemning his actions. The lone voice defending him is his wife, Janay. But she is hardly listened to. Some accuse her of being concerned only about the loss of money. Others accuse her of being an idiot who tolerates being trampled upon. Both disgust me. Who are we not to take this woman at her word that she loves this man, that he is a changed man, and that their struggle is to keep their family intact for the sake of themselves and their child? Moreover, how dare the NFL behave as though there is some surprise in what we see on that tape! Did anyone think there was a mystery third person in the elevator who struck her, or that she slipped on a cube of ice? We all knew what happened, and were outraged. The NFL was less outraged, witness the two game suspension they reacted with.

At this point, the debate will rage about who knew what when, who saw the tape, and such trivia. What is important is this; the NFL saw on tape a brutal assault, and determined a 2 game suspension to be the appropriate punishment. Had they said immediately, “You’re done for the year, Ray. You can apply for reinstatement next year, but for now your actions have been unacceptable, and you cannot play football this year in the NFL,”, the current debate would not be raging. That decision was the beginning of turning a tragedy into a travesty. They now complete the cycle by deflecting the consequences all onto the Rice family, upping the ante a day late, but not a dollar short. Shame on you, NFL. Shame on you. I guess if you can deny the physical damage to players damaged by concussions, their handling of this matter should surprise no one.