Jim Nantz: Ray Rice Situation ‘Arguably Darkest Week’ In NFL History

The NFL has endured countless tragic moments over the last several years.

From former players like Junior Seau committing suicide, to Aaron Hernandez’s downfall, there’s no doubt “The Shield” has taken plenty of pelts.

However, during Thursday night’s telecast on CBS, legendary play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz said that the NFL was currently going through “arguably the darkest week in the history of the league” because of the NFL’s poor response to Ray Rice slugging his girlfriend in the face on an elevator.

That’s certainly a bold statement when one considers moments like Pete Rozelle’s decision for the NFL to play its games a few days after JFK’s assassination, Jovan Belcher murdering his girlfriend and then shooting himself in 2012 or even the entire Michael Vick saga.

What makes the Ray Rice situation different is the possibility that commissioner Roger Goodell and other executives might have known about the jarring video of Rice’s attack but failed to react to it.

While Rice isn’t the first player to be involved in domestic abuse, the league’s failure to address it properly is what makes the whole situation dark. Nantz’s statement is bold, especially for a man who’s known for his soothing and calming voice, but there’s definitely a good case to his point.

Photo via Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports Images