The Baltimore Ravens have decided to honor former running back Ray Rice as a “Legend of the Game" during their upcoming clash with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
This recognition follows a dark chapter in Ray Rice"s past when he was arrested and charged with assault in 2014 after a physical altercation with his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City.
Let"s rewind the timeline and look back a what really went wrong.
On February 15, 2014, Ray Rice and his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, were arrested for fighting at a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
They had been drinking a lot that night, and an argument turned physical.
A video of the incident was later posted by TMZ, showing Rice punching Palmer in the face, causing her to fall and hit her head on the elevator handrail.
Back then, Rice was playing with the Baltimore Ravens, and the NFL team took the matter seriously.
The legal authorities got involved, and on March 27, 2014, a grand jury charged Rice with third-degree aggravated assault.
This charge could have led to three to five years in jail and a fine of up to $15,000.
Surprisingly, just six weeks after the incident, Rice and Palmer got married on March 28, 2014.
Later, on July 25, 2014, the NFL suspended Rice for the first two games of the season as a punishment for the incident.
While serving the suspension for the domestic violence case, Rice was released by the Ravens on September 8, 2014. Plus, the NFL announced an indefinite suspension for Rice in response to the TMZ video.
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Interestingly, in September 2014, Janay Rice, the wife of Ray Rice, took to Instagram to express her frustration with the media. She condemned them for subjecting her and her husband to the distressing and shameful incident they had experienced.
Janay wrote:
"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend. No one knows the pain that [the] media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass [off] for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don’t you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravens nation we love you!"
Following the NFL"s suspension, Rice appealed it, arguing that being suspended twice for the same offense violated league rules.
On November 28, 2014, it was announced that Rice had won his appeal and was reinstated in the NFL.
On January 15, 2015, Rice and the Ravens reportedly settled the lawsuit he had filed against the team. The lawsuit sought $3.529 million in back pay, covering the final 15 weeks after serving the NFL"s initial two-game suspension.
While the settlement specifics were not disclosed, it was estimated that Rice received a significant portion of his claim.
In 2016, Rice pledged to donate his entire salary for the season to domestic violence charities if he were signed by a team; however, he remained unsigned. By 2018, Rice officially announced the conclusion of his football career.
Fast forward to the present day, as the Ravens prepare to honor Ray Rice, he has spoken out, expressing understanding about why he was let go and got candid about his personal growth.
“I truly understand why I was let go and why so many hearts changed. But hopefully people can see where I"m at now. They say people can change, right? I am not the same person I was 10-12 years ago. That"s just not who I am. Every time I stepped on the field, I gave it my all. But I couldn"t say the same for life. Now I"m trying to be the best version of me" Rice said.
Ray Rice, now a married father of two, has returned to the Baltimore area with then-fiancée and now-wife, Janay Palmer and is actively involved in coaching youth football teams.
“Raising my kids here, I can"t call it a Super Bowl, but it will be a surreal moment," Rice said. “I want people to really see me. I"m still standing. I"m still going to be strong. I"m still going to help as many people as I can. I"m still going to be a man in the community."
Rice has launched a non-profit organization called Pipeline 2 Prosperity, aimed at helping underprivileged kids in Baltimore and his hometown in New Rochelle, N.Y.
His passion for this cause stems from personal experiences, having overcome challenges and striving to provide second chances. Reflecting on his journey, Rice acknowledges his past mistakes and the need for forgiveness.
Rice said:
“I know what it feels like to feel like you ain"t worth it no more. That"s what made me more passionate about a second chance. You just don"t throw people away. A lot of things I had to overcome came out of me being at my lowest. It"s a daily grind. It"s daily work. But there"s real purpose behind that. At the end of the day, I did something very wrong. I didn"t deserve anything in my life when it happened. My second chance was with my family."
He continued:
“I knew it would be hard to forgive me, but the one thing I have been consistent with was that I was going to be better. I"m not going to be a victim of my past," Rice said. “My legacy won"t be domestic violence. My legacy will be what I became after."
Ever since the domestic violence incident, Ray Rice has engaged in extensive learning about domestic violence, working with various organizations and mental health professionals to address root issues.
Thus, Ray Rice"s recognition as "Legend of the Game" by Ravens is not just for his on-field accomplishments but also for the strides he has made in reshaping his life, mending relationships, and contributing positively to the community, away from the public eye.
Ray Rice, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, signed a four-year deal. In his debut season, Rice made his first start in Week 1, finishing the year with 546 rushing yards and 273 receiving yards. The following season, he secured the starting running back position.
The 2010 season saw Rice achieve a career-best 233 yards from scrimmage in a game against the New Orleans Saints. He continued to excel in the playoffs, scoring a receiving touchdown in the Wild Card Round.
In 2012, Rice signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Ravens.
Rice clinched his first and only Super Bowl ring with the Ravens" victory in Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013. The 2013 season saw Rice facing challenges due to injuries, but he had a standout game in Week 11, rushing for 131 yards.
In total, he recorded 660 rushing yards on 214 carries for four touchdowns during the 2013 season.
