Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith was suspended the first four games of the 2018 season by the NFL for violating the personal conduct policy the league has implemented. However, the Ravens apparently aren’t planning on cutting ties with Smith over the matter.
Perhaps more than any other franchise, the Ravens get put under the microscope. That’s because it’s the same franchise that sparked much of the conduct policy controversy when it was the organization that had running back Ray Rice on the roster.
Ultimately, Rice was released and never played another down in the NFL after video of him hitting his then-girlfriend (now wife) in an elevator.
Ravens say they will welcome Jimmy Smith back from his domestic violence suspension. Runs counter to their stated policy after Ray Rice’s release. Begs the question would they have cut a less-vital player for the same actions?
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 21, 2018
Smith’s suspension came after allegations that he had committed domestic violence. The allegations came from the mother of Smith’s first child.
The cornerback issued a statement through the team in which he took responsibility for his actions, accepted his suspension, and vowed to learn and grow from it. The statement closed with the following:
“Moving forward, I will work with the NFL and the Ravens to ensure that what happened in the past will never happen again. I will take all necessary steps to be a positive role model for both my sons, for the NFL and for the entire Ravens community.”
Following Jimmy Smith’s statement, the team released one of their own:
“As a result of this entire process, we will allow Jimmy to return to our team after his suspension … Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them. He has completed a clinical evaluation and has agreed to undertake any follow-up care or treatment that may be recommended. Through our conversations with Jimmy, we believe he is taking the proper steps to improve and that he can change. Jimmy has assured us that he is fully dedicated to making this change. He also understands the consequences if he does not.”
Jimmy Smith was previously suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy but was able to serve that suspension while out with an Achilles injury. The official suspension was for the last four games of last season, meaning Smith effectively will serve eight consecutive Ravens games suspended for two different reasons.
The original suspension was six games but was shortened by two games after an appeal. Smith will be eligible to return on October 1st.
