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Football is a fraternity, and NFL players rarely criticize each other publicly, especially when it comes to matters of discipline. That changed with the release of a video Monday that shows Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee in February. Hours later, the running back was let go by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Players across the league made their feelings clear through social media and in interviews. Among the most outspoken was Denver defensive tackle Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton. He unleashed a series of tweets saying, among other things, that Rice should be kicked out of the league and thrown in jail. He also criticized NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for initially suspending Rice for just two games. "It just came from the heart, really," Knighton explained later in the locker room. "Whether I was a football player or not, I spoke my mind. A lot of guys dont speak their mind just because theyre worried about the consequences and what people think. But Im one of those guys that regardless of what it is, Im going to speak my mind. "I felt strongly about the situation and domestic violence overall. So I just spoke on it. I gave my opinion. I think the league handled it the right way." Denver teammate Bubba Caldwell said Knightons tweets made him watch the video, "and once I saw it, I was 100 per cent behind him. I would never want anybody to put their hands on my mother or sister. I believe the punishment is what it should be." Caldwell acknowledged that players are loathe to criticize one another, but "sometimes youve got to step up, not just as a football player, and voice your opinion. And if you really feel strongly about something, I dont think the uniform you wear or the team you play for should determine if you speak out or not." Knighton is the oldest of four boys, "and Im a role model for them also. So, I dont think thats acceptable in any workplace, any job you have, anywhere you live, wherever you are, what colour you are, how much money you make. That shouldnt be accepted anywhere." He said if one of his teammates were involved in domestic violence, "I wouldnt be friends with the guy or talk to the guy." Knighton said he didnt speak out about Rices initial two-game suspension because he didnt know all the details. "Originally, you just see him carrying her so you dont know what happened," Knighton said. "... But now that the video is out, I think the league handled it the right way. Like I said, theres no place in the world for domestic violence." When Knighton was voted a defensive captain by his peers last week, he said part of being a leader was "speaking your mind. When things are uncomfortable and things are wanted to be said, you man up and say those things." When he saw the TMZ video of Rices hit, Knighton took to Twitter, saying "this video "makes me sick to my stomach" and adding, "That man should be thrown out the nfl and thrown into jail. Shame on those deciding his punishment. Smh." Heres a sampling of other reactions across the NFL: -- Steelers cornerback William Gay: "Were talking about a life, I dont care about a sport when it comes down to domestic violence. This is real. Someone can lose their life to it. "So Im not concerned about the sport. Im concerned about what happens in the world, what happens in real life. " Gays mother, Carolyn, was shot and killed by Gays stepfather in Tallahassee, Florida, when Gay was 7 years old. He volunteers at the Womens Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and is an advocate for domestic violence victims. "We need to do everything we can to help Ray Rice because we dont need to run away from him and say hes evil." -- Bills coach Doug Marrone, who supports Vera House, which assists victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse: "Am I happy the NFL has taken a harder stance? ... I mean, there is no excuse for abuse. I really believe that." -- Cleveland Browns coach Mike Pettine, who called the video "deeply disturbing, especially as a father that has two daughters": "Theres just no place for that behaviour in our society." -- Titans tackle Michael Oher, former teammate of Rices in Baltimore whose locker was next to the running back: "If my daughter was to get hit like that from another man, Id have a serious problem with it. So I wish him the best, but its no place for that. I dont care if youre a football player, a professional athlete or anything, a regular man or anything, theres no place for that -- striking a woman." -- Judy Harris Kluger, a former New York City judge and now executive director of Sanctuary for Families, a leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence and related forms of gender violence: "The video of Ray Rice punching his fiancee in the elevator is a graphic illustration of what goes on behind closed doors every day in this country. In my years as a prosecutor and judge, I never saw such explicit videotape evidence of domestic violence. Today, by acting quickly and decisively, and in suspending Ray Rice and terminating his contract, the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens sent a powerful message that domestic violence will not be tolerated. "I hope that with this action, along with the new policy outlined by Commissioner Goodell, the NFL will emerge as leaders in the fight against domestic violence." MIAMI -- For the first time in a while, Jacob Turner pitched like the pitcher the Marlins believe he can be. He even got a win for it. Turner won for the first time in 18 starts, pitching 6 1-3 scoreless innings to help the Miami Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Saturday. "I hope it reaffirms the fact of how good of stuff that he has and that he can pitch and win at this level," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. It was the best outing of the season for Turner (1-2). He struck out two and walked one while allowing eight hits. It was only the second time in six starts this season that the 23-year old former first-round draft pick has not allowed at least four runs. "I feel like Ive been pitching well the last three or four times out," Turner said. "The results are the results, but Im feeling confident out there and I feel like each time out Im getting better." Turners last win was on July 10, 2013, against Atlanta. He had lost nine consecutive decisions. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jeff Baker drove in the runs for the Marlins, who have won three of four. Steve Cishek recorded the final four outs for his 10th save in 11 chances. Brewers starter Wily Peralta (4-4) allowed one run and six hits in six innings. "It was a tough loss," Peralta said. "When you pitch like that you want to win." Milwaukees Ryan Braun was in the lineup after missing Fridays game with tightness in his right side and went 1 for 4. A day after the teams combined for a Marlins Park-record seven home runs, runs were scarce. "After last nights game where the ball was flying out of here--thats the beauty of baseball, you come out here and its a 2-1 game, every out is big, every at-bat is a big at-bat," Redmond said. Carlos Gomez, who had a pair of hits for the Brewers and is 9 for 14 in his last three games, was thrown out at third base to end the sixth inning when trying to advance from first on a base hit by Mark Reynolds. Braun was on his way to score easily from second, but left fielder Christian Yelichs throw to third got Gomez before Braun crossed home plate preserving a 1-0 lead for the Marlins.dddddddddddd "I knew there wasnt going to be any play at home and I knew Gomez was pretty aggressive on the bases," Yelich said. "...I decided to make a throw at third and see what happened and I ended up getting him before the run scored." Home plate umpire Brian ONora immediately called off the run and took 40 seconds to review the play, which was upheld. "A perfect throw," Redmond said. The Marlins scored in the bottom of the seventh for a 2-0 lead when Adeiny Hechavarria led off with a base hit, stole second, and then scored on a base hit by Baker. Jonathan Lucroys RBI double off the right-field wall in the eighth cut the deficit to 2-1. Gomez struck out on a ball in the dirt, but reached second base on Saltalamacchias errant throw down to first base. With runners on second and third, Cishek came on to strike out Scooter Gennett to end the inning. "It was the perfect time to bring him in and he did a great job," Redmond said. Cishek allowed a two-out infield hit to Elian Herrera in the ninth before striking out Jean Segura for the final out. "We got some hits today," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "We didnt get them until a little bit later on, but we did get some hits and we had base runners. We had a couple of chances; we missed the one with Gomie when he was thrown out. We didnt score on that so that hurt obviously." Saltalamacchia provided the Marlins first run with an RBI double in the second inning scoring Casey McGehee. NOTES: Roenicke is now 5-4 in challenges this season after losing the call in the sixth. ... Before the game the Marlins placed LHP Brad Hand on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle and recalled LHP Dan Jennings from Triple-A New Orleans. ... After the game Brewers SS Jeff Bianchi was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville to make room for RHP Jimmy Nelson, who will start on Sunday. ... Miami will counter with LHP Randy Wolf as both Wolf and Nelson will be making their first starts of the season. ' ' '
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