Good to finally put this behind us, and Rice. Now for the one final piece of the mystery, the suspension. If it stays at 2-4 weeks as predicted, then I would consider that a significant victory for Rice and the Chiefs.
Great summary from a prosecutor and human standpoint Seth. People, young ones in particular, do stupid things. Luckily it wasn't worse for the victims. Great to have it done without it hanging over his and the Chief's head.
Just curious on is this normal to be done the way it was? As in totally out of the publicity and written charges. Is that something you have done before?
Being the eternal optimist looking for the silver lining, I hope that Royals gets a little more actual game experience to start the season. I assume Rice's suspension will be at the start of the season. JuJu can fill in, Royals can get some valuable experience and by the end of the season the Chiefs will be in full playoff mode
It is possible. It means Royals only has to beat out JuJu Smith Schuster or be the 4th reiver to get on the field. It gives him a shot. The problem is that I am not sure he can build up enough trust with Mahomes that early to do much. Even Rice and Worthy didn't really show much as rookies until the second half of the season.
I'm not expecting much from Royals this year but I would like to see what he's got. I still think JuJu will be #3 until Rice comes back and that should mean that Royals gets a little more playing time than he would have at #5. I think Rice will hit the ground running when he comes off his suspension
The league is generally brutal to Chiefs' players. It gave both Omenihu and Justyn Ross six games for pretty minor domestic violence stuff. This is in contrast to Alvin Kamara who got two games for beating a guy unconscious and leaving him for dead in a Las Vegas Casino. I would be very surprised if the suspension is anything less than six games and I wouldn't be shocked if it were 8. No way is it anything less than four games. My bet would be six games. Six games seems to Roger Gadell's standard "Chiefs player punishment".
I think the distinction you failed to highlight is Omenihu & Ross were DV stuff, whereas Kamara just beat up a random dude. The NFL wants to appear tough on DV because they're still trying to increase their fanbase among women. Hard to do that when NFL players are beating their wives and girlfriends without major suspensions. So 6 games is almost always the automatic minimum for any DV offense.
This is also why I agree with Seth's estimate of 2-4 games; 6 games seems overly harsh for a first time offense that isn't domestic violence related. But I also agree the league seems to relish in screwing the Chiefs when it comes to suspensions, specifically in the timing of them. Though they'd be hard-pressed to drag out announcing this suspension as it's mid-July and the civil & criminal cases have been resolved. There's no reason we shouldn't know his suspension by the conclusion of training camp/start of regular season.
Kamera was with a mob and beat a guy unconscious. He got off way easy. I hope you are right about the four games. I just think six because the league office seems to love to screw the Chiefs.
Yeah I couldn't remember the exact details of the Kamara incident, but I don't disagree with you that he got off easy. I just feel like the league puts a hyperfocus on DV incidents, so they're typically judged much more harshly.
They do. Six games is said to be the minimum for any DV incident. I don’t necessarily have a problem with that, except that they shouldn’t then go so easy other serious things that are not DV. It seems that as long as it doesn’t involve DV or a woman, it automatically isn’t a big deal. What Rice did here is much worse than what Omenihu and Justyn Ross did. Those guys didn’t put anyone’s life in danger. Rice could have killed or seriously injured multiple people. Yet, if the speculation is correct, Rice is going to get a four game suspension where they each got a six game suspension.
Here's the rub though, I've seen plenty of people playing the "what if" game in regards to Rice's incident, and maybe that's due to it being rather easy to imagine someone being killed in a car accident. But what's missing is the intent to harm another human being. Rice wasn't street racing to maim or murder innocent people. Omenihu and Ross literally used physical violence to intimidate and/or harm someone.
So how do you judge which is worse? The severity of possible outcomes or the intent of the actions that led to the incident? Clearly you think Rice's incident is worse because someone could have died, but I think you fail to realize Omenihu & Ross could have just as easily killed someone. Accidents don't only happen on the highway.
I will be very surprised if Rashee gets off with fewer than 4 games. The precedent is Aldrick Rosas (2020 hit-and-run/leaving the scene of the accident, which resulted in 3 years probation, 30 days jail time, suspended sentence). Rosas got a 4 game suspension. The factor making 4 games a floor not a ceiling is, Rashee's accident injured people (Rosas didn't, from what I can tell). Now, maybe the extent of those injuries were exaggerated and the league will take that into account. But given the high profile of the case, it will be very hard for the league to give him fewer than 4 games, and I suspect he'll get more.
Seth, thank you for the breakdown. And thank you for always putting the victims situation front and center. As you said he messed up bad and has to now pay the price. He needs to own his actions and make amends, which he seems to be doing.
As a KC fan we need him on the field, but as humans we need accountability even more.
The stay of adjudication you referenced sounds a lot like a SIS or Suspended Imposition of Sentence. Really hope Rashee learns from this and finds a way to surround himself with a good support system. Bright future ahead.
That is what it is. Since Rice is a first time offender, he will be allowed to have the conviction erased from his record if he successfully completes probation. That is a huge break for him and allows him to avoid spending his life as a convicted felon.
I figured it was similar. You are certainly right, this seems like a significant break when facing multiple felony charges. I was a foolish kid once too, so I also don't think it's an unreasonable outcome.
Rice was an idiot and really can't complain when the league suspends him. That being said, other NFL players have done a lot worse and gone on to have long careers.
It's great that you have the level of expertise and understanding of legal matters to share with your readers, and we appreciate it. On the other hand, it's a bummer that your knowledge is pertinent to Chiefs players. Talking football is a lot more enjoyable.
Considering Rice was involved in something else that kind of got buried (though it's unclear what the facts were), I have some concerns about his ability to stay out of trouble with regard to his probation...
Texas allows for intermittent jail sentences so it wouldn't have to be 30 consecutive days. Glad he wasn't punished too harshly for acting in an exceptional irresponsible and reckless manner. Victims are getting compensated, he is being punished but not too harshly. Best case scenario for him. Wins all around. Let's hope he reports to jail after the Super Bowl Parade and uses Uber for the next 5 years.
Good to finally put this behind us, and Rice. Now for the one final piece of the mystery, the suspension. If it stays at 2-4 weeks as predicted, then I would consider that a significant victory for Rice and the Chiefs.
The suspension should be 2-4 games, but because it's KC I fully expect 4-6 games.
It's going to be a 2 game suspension.
They always bone the Chiefs in suspensions. If it were the Browns, it'd be a two game. I expect an eight. It's NFL political.
Good stuff, Seth. Thanks for the break-down.
Great summary from a prosecutor and human standpoint Seth. People, young ones in particular, do stupid things. Luckily it wasn't worse for the victims. Great to have it done without it hanging over his and the Chief's head.
Just curious on is this normal to be done the way it was? As in totally out of the publicity and written charges. Is that something you have done before?
Translating the Minnesota legal-ehs into Texas legal-yalls into layperson is much appreciated Seth
Let me further simplify.
You're doin' 30 days, plain and simple. AND, if ya don't fuck up for 5 years, we'll leave ya be. Otherwise, the law is gonna be on your ass.
lol
PS I'm from rural MO, so this is how it'd be told there, too.
I understood you...I'm from Nixa, MO 😅🤣
Being the eternal optimist looking for the silver lining, I hope that Royals gets a little more actual game experience to start the season. I assume Rice's suspension will be at the start of the season. JuJu can fill in, Royals can get some valuable experience and by the end of the season the Chiefs will be in full playoff mode
It is possible. It means Royals only has to beat out JuJu Smith Schuster or be the 4th reiver to get on the field. It gives him a shot. The problem is that I am not sure he can build up enough trust with Mahomes that early to do much. Even Rice and Worthy didn't really show much as rookies until the second half of the season.
I'm not expecting much from Royals this year but I would like to see what he's got. I still think JuJu will be #3 until Rice comes back and that should mean that Royals gets a little more playing time than he would have at #5. I think Rice will hit the ground running when he comes off his suspension
I was thinking (that if it's an early suspension), it might get Royals some good time, just like you said.
And maybe it gives Rice that extra month to get REALLY right.
One can hope.
I wouldn't expect that to be the case but training camp will give us a good indication on whether the Chiefs plan on using Royals early.
The league is generally brutal to Chiefs' players. It gave both Omenihu and Justyn Ross six games for pretty minor domestic violence stuff. This is in contrast to Alvin Kamara who got two games for beating a guy unconscious and leaving him for dead in a Las Vegas Casino. I would be very surprised if the suspension is anything less than six games and I wouldn't be shocked if it were 8. No way is it anything less than four games. My bet would be six games. Six games seems to Roger Gadell's standard "Chiefs player punishment".
I think the distinction you failed to highlight is Omenihu & Ross were DV stuff, whereas Kamara just beat up a random dude. The NFL wants to appear tough on DV because they're still trying to increase their fanbase among women. Hard to do that when NFL players are beating their wives and girlfriends without major suspensions. So 6 games is almost always the automatic minimum for any DV offense.
This is also why I agree with Seth's estimate of 2-4 games; 6 games seems overly harsh for a first time offense that isn't domestic violence related. But I also agree the league seems to relish in screwing the Chiefs when it comes to suspensions, specifically in the timing of them. Though they'd be hard-pressed to drag out announcing this suspension as it's mid-July and the civil & criminal cases have been resolved. There's no reason we shouldn't know his suspension by the conclusion of training camp/start of regular season.
Kamera was with a mob and beat a guy unconscious. He got off way easy. I hope you are right about the four games. I just think six because the league office seems to love to screw the Chiefs.
Yeah I couldn't remember the exact details of the Kamara incident, but I don't disagree with you that he got off easy. I just feel like the league puts a hyperfocus on DV incidents, so they're typically judged much more harshly.
They do. Six games is said to be the minimum for any DV incident. I don’t necessarily have a problem with that, except that they shouldn’t then go so easy other serious things that are not DV. It seems that as long as it doesn’t involve DV or a woman, it automatically isn’t a big deal. What Rice did here is much worse than what Omenihu and Justyn Ross did. Those guys didn’t put anyone’s life in danger. Rice could have killed or seriously injured multiple people. Yet, if the speculation is correct, Rice is going to get a four game suspension where they each got a six game suspension.
Here's the rub though, I've seen plenty of people playing the "what if" game in regards to Rice's incident, and maybe that's due to it being rather easy to imagine someone being killed in a car accident. But what's missing is the intent to harm another human being. Rice wasn't street racing to maim or murder innocent people. Omenihu and Ross literally used physical violence to intimidate and/or harm someone.
So how do you judge which is worse? The severity of possible outcomes or the intent of the actions that led to the incident? Clearly you think Rice's incident is worse because someone could have died, but I think you fail to realize Omenihu & Ross could have just as easily killed someone. Accidents don't only happen on the highway.
🔥🔥🔥 Great stuff Seth keep it up!
I will be very surprised if Rashee gets off with fewer than 4 games. The precedent is Aldrick Rosas (2020 hit-and-run/leaving the scene of the accident, which resulted in 3 years probation, 30 days jail time, suspended sentence). Rosas got a 4 game suspension. The factor making 4 games a floor not a ceiling is, Rashee's accident injured people (Rosas didn't, from what I can tell). Now, maybe the extent of those injuries were exaggerated and the league will take that into account. But given the high profile of the case, it will be very hard for the league to give him fewer than 4 games, and I suspect he'll get more.
I bet it is six games and wouldn't be surprised if it is 8. I agree with you that four games is the floor.
The team generally has a pretty good understanding of the range to expect, but I agree that's the closest precedent!
Seth, thank you for the breakdown. And thank you for always putting the victims situation front and center. As you said he messed up bad and has to now pay the price. He needs to own his actions and make amends, which he seems to be doing.
As a KC fan we need him on the field, but as humans we need accountability even more.
The stay of adjudication you referenced sounds a lot like a SIS or Suspended Imposition of Sentence. Really hope Rashee learns from this and finds a way to surround himself with a good support system. Bright future ahead.
That is what it is. Since Rice is a first time offender, he will be allowed to have the conviction erased from his record if he successfully completes probation. That is a huge break for him and allows him to avoid spending his life as a convicted felon.
I figured it was similar. You are certainly right, this seems like a significant break when facing multiple felony charges. I was a foolish kid once too, so I also don't think it's an unreasonable outcome.
Rice was an idiot and really can't complain when the league suspends him. That being said, other NFL players have done a lot worse and gone on to have long careers.
It's great that you have the level of expertise and understanding of legal matters to share with your readers, and we appreciate it. On the other hand, it's a bummer that your knowledge is pertinent to Chiefs players. Talking football is a lot more enjoyable.
Considering Rice was involved in something else that kind of got buried (though it's unclear what the facts were), I have some concerns about his ability to stay out of trouble with regard to his probation...
Thanks Seth. What a great viewpoint and wealth of experience you offer. Much appreciated.
Texas allows for intermittent jail sentences so it wouldn't have to be 30 consecutive days. Glad he wasn't punished too harshly for acting in an exceptional irresponsible and reckless manner. Victims are getting compensated, he is being punished but not too harshly. Best case scenario for him. Wins all around. Let's hope he reports to jail after the Super Bowl Parade and uses Uber for the next 5 years.