Bill Simmons Axed For Roger Goodell, Ray Rice Rant: Twitter Reacts To ESPN Suspension With #FreeBillSimmons

During his grantland.com podcast Editor-in-Chief, Bill Simmons ranted bout National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell's handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case.

Due to their affiliation, ESPN suspended the sports columnist for three weeks, which sparked an outrage on Twitter, causing users to speak their minds with the hashtag #FreeBillSimmons.

As reported here, Simmons repeatedly called Goodell a liar for saying that he had not seen the elevator video of Rice punching his fiancee, Janay Palmer.

In his obscenity-laced tirade, the former ESPN The Magazine writer argues, "If you put him up on a lie detector test, that guy would fail. For all these people to pretend they didn't know is such [expletive] [expletive]. It really is, it's such [expletive] [expletive]."

In an immediate response to the tirade, ESPN suspensed the sports journalist from all activities. The cable conglomerate also removed the controversial podcast from the Grantland website.

On its official website, ESPN released this statement: "Every employee must be accountable to ESPN, and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN's journalistic standards. We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria."

According to Yahoo! News, the hashtags #FreeBillSimmons and #FreeSimmons have been trending since the news hit the Web.

Here are a few samples of what Twitter followers had to say about the ESPN suspension:

@MosDeaf21 tweeted, "#FreeBillSimmons we support you, even when your network doesn't."

@JoeyWestern said, "Not a huge Simmons fan, but ESPN is flat out ridiculous. Can't wait for the day another sports network comes around. #espn #FreeBillSimmons"

@timothycho7g added, "ESPN, are u shutting him up for speaking the truth? Shame on u. #FreeSimmons #FreeBillSimmons #BoycottESPN #BoycottNFL #domesticviolence"

@mono03 showed her support by saying, "@BillSimmons always seemed like a Boston homer but I really have become a fan after he's the only one to call out ESPN #FreeBillSimmons."

@CaptJersey said, "I guess I won't be watching or clicking on @ESPN for three weeks either. #FreeBillSimmons"

@courters41 argued, "Bill Simmons was right. Roger Goodell is a liar. You are on the wrong side of this issue. #FreeBillSimmons #FreeSimmons"

Readers, what do you think of the ESPN suspension?