The league is not the criminal justice system. If you need just punishment, the courts are responsible for that. It isn't the NFLs responsibility.
The responsibility they have is to hold players accountable for getting into trouble off the field due to their contractual obligations.
An off field incident doesn't have a sliding scale of punishment fits the crime. It doesn't matter if he is suspected of hitting his fiance. Off field trouble is off field trouble.
If a player cheats for a game advantage by taking a banned substance or getting into trouble multiple times, they will face a stiffer punishment than a player who only got into trouble once.
That isn't a statement of what is worse. Smoking weed or beating a woman. It is a statement of get into trouble once, you get punished. Get into trouble more often, you get punished more.
If you get into legal trouble, but don't end up getting convicted of anything, do you get disciplined by your place of employment?
I couldn't care less what the NFL does to Rice, but his fiance should press charges. If she doesn't, there is nothing anyone can do about it. Missing even a whole season wouldn't be justice for that. A conviction in a court of law is the only thing that would do that for me.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.