By Morris Phillips

 

Highly-regarded 49ers’ broadcaster Ted Robinson was suspended today by the team for comments he made Monday in the wake of the Baltimore Ravens decision to release running back Ray Rice after videotape released by TMZ showed the graphic nature of his attack on then fiancee’ Janay inside an Atlantic City casino elevator.

The 49ers announced that Robinson, the 49ers’ radio play-by-play announcer since 2009, will miss the team’s next two games because of his comments.  Also, Robinson was suspended by the Pac-12 Networks where he also does play-by-play on the networks’ Saturday college football broadcasts.

The Pac-12 Network also announced that Robinson will undergo sensitivity training during his period of suspension.

On Monday, in a conversational segment with Rich Walcoff on the KGO Radio news, Robinson said that Rice’s fiancée’s decision to not speak up about the attack in which she was knocked unconscious was “to me, the saddest part of it all.”

Robinson went on to say that her decision to marry Rice in the wake of the incident was “pathetic.”

49ers’ president Paraag Marathe released this statement in announcing the suspension: “The comments made by radio broadcaster Ted Robinson on Monday were offensive and in no way reflect the views of the San Francisco 49ers organization.  We have made the decision to suspend him for the next two games.  I informed Ted of our decision earlier today, and we will continue to address this matter with him internally.  Our organization stands strongly against domestic violence and will not tolerate comments such as these.”

Robinson also released a statement of apology: “I want to unconditionally apologize for my comments the other day.  As a professional communicator, I am responsible for my words.  My choice of words was careless and does not reflect my true feelings about domestic violence.  I understand that the cycle of abuse keeps people in unhealthy relationships.  No blame or responsibility for domestic violence should ever be placed on a victim.”

The 57-year old Robinson has worked for the Giants, A’s and NBC during the Olympics and Wimbledon in his 30-year career.  He recently signed an extension to remain as play-by-play announcer with the team through 2018.

Robinson’s suspension comes in the wake of the team’s controversial decision to let defensive lineman Ray McDonald play in Sunday’s game in Dallas after he was arrested—but not as of yet charged—in a domestic violence incident on August 31 at a party at McDonald’s home where he allegedly assaulted his pregnant fiancée.  The team announced that they would decline to suspend or release McDonald in the wake of that incident, instead saying that they would wait until the legal process played out and possibly until league-mandated action is taken.

Veteran KTVU broadcaster Joe Fonzi is expected to replace Robinson in the booth during the suspension.