Ray Rice Suspended from NFL for Domestic Violence

In a shocking turn of events, the NFL has suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for two games for domestic violence. This is the first time that the NFL has taken such a hard-line stance against domestic violence.

Rice was caught on video assaulting his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City casino hotel. The video shows Rice punching his fiancee in the face and knocking her unconscious.

This isn't the first time that Rice has been involved in a domestic violence incident. In February of this year, he was charged with assault after allegedly punching his now-wife in the face.

Many people are applauding the NFL for taking a strong stance against domestic violence. However, there are also some who feel that Rice's suspension is too harsh.

Ray Lewis to Retire After Season

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis will retire from the NFL after this season, according to sources.

Lewis, who is in his 17th year in the league, has been one of the most dominant defenders in the game for much of his career. He is a seven-time All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

The 37-year-old Lewis has had a tumultuous season, however. He was indicted on murder charges in 2000, but later reached a plea agreement and ultimately served no jail time.

Lewis is also coming off a torn triceps that caused him to miss 10 games last year. He returned to play in the Ravens' playoff run, which ended with a loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Lewis hinted at his impending retirement but stopped short of announcing it outright. "This will be my last ride," he said.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Lewis' decision on Thursday. "It's about Ray Lewis - it's about his legacy," Harbaugh said. "He didn't have to come back this year."

Lewis has not yet given a timetable for his retirement announcement, but said he wants to do it on his own terms. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm just doing this because I need to do something for TV or because I have some ulterior motive," he said.

Regardless of how he retires, Ray Lewis leaves behind an incredible legacy as one of the best linebackers in NFL history.

Rays Lose to Yankees in Game 7 of ALDS

The Tampa Bay Rays lost to the New York Yankees Wednesday night in Game 7 of the American League Division Series.

This was a tough loss for the Rays, who had a chance to win the series but couldn't close it out.

The Rays will now have to head into the offseason knowing that they came up short in their quest to make it to the World Series.

It was another great season for the Rays, who finished with a record of 96-66.

They will now have to figure out how to improve for next year and try to make another run at the World Series.

Third Consecutive Year the Rays Miss Playoffs

After a promising start to the season, the Tampa Bay Rays saw their playoff hopes slip away in the later months, finishing six games out of a wildcard spot. This marks the third consecutive year the Rays have failed to make the playoffs, and fourth in the last five years.

The off-season began with much uncertainty for the Rays, as they had several key players set to become free agents. With captain and face of the franchise Evan Longoria among those players, many wondered if he would stay in Tampa Bay or sign elsewhere. In late November, Longoria signed a new 10-year contract extension with the Rays, keeping him in Tampa Bay until 2027.

Despite Longoria's return, there were other major departures from the team this off-season. Starting pitcher Drew Smyly signed with division rival Detroit Tigers and closer Jake McGee was traded to Colorado Rockies. The Rays also lost outfielder Sean Rodriguez to free agency after he signed with Atlanta Braves.

With Smyly and McGee no longer on the team, it was up to other pitchers to fill their roles. Third baseman Logan Forsythe stated that he was confident that the team could overcome these losses. "We have guys who can come in and do just as good of a job if not better," said Forsythe.

Opening day saw some early promise for the Rays as they won their first game against Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 behind ace pitcher Chris Archer. However, they then went on a six-game losing streak and never recovered, finishing the month of April with a record of 11-17. Archer struggled at times during the season, posting an 8-12 record with a 4.02 ERA.

May was more of the same for Tampa Bay, as they went 9-14 and found themselves even further out of playoff contention. In June they began to turn things around however, going 15-10 and trimming their deficit from 6 games to 3 games entering July. But inconsistency once again plagued them in July as they went 8-11; including a four game losing streak near the end of the month that all but extinguished their playoff hopes .

Their final push for a playoff spot came in August when they went 14-13; including an impressive 10-game win streak near the beginning of the month . However it was not enough, and they fell short of making October baseball once again.

Looking ahead to next season, there are several questions that will need to be answered for Tampa Bay Rays . Can Archer rebound from his struggles this year? Will Longoria be able to continue his success from late this season into next year? And can they fill the hole left by McGee's departure? Only time will tell answers these questions and whether or not Tampa Bay can finally make it back to postseason play

Fans Mourn Loss of Longtime Rays Slugger

The baseball world was in mourning on Tuesday as longtime Tampa Bay Rays slugger, David Ortiz, announced his retirement.

"It has been an incredible honor to play alongside you for so many years," Ortiz said in a statement. "I will always remember the moments we shared together on the field."

Ortiz, known affectionately as "Big Papi," retires as one of the most successful and beloved players in baseball history. A three-time World Series champion, Ortiz ranks 17th on the all-time home run list with 541 career homers. He is also the Boston Red Sox's all-time leader in RBIs (1,569) and hits (2,192).

Fans took to social media to express their sadness at Ortiz's retirement. Many recalled favorite moments from his career, and thanked him for his contributions to the game.

"You will be missed Papi! Thank you for always giving your all on and off the field," wrote one fan. "You are a true legend."

"Thank you for everything, David Ortiz," added another. "You'll never know how much you meant to us Boston fans."

Ortiz has said he plans to spend more time with his family after retiring. He is also expected to continue working with the Red Sox organization in some capacity.