Baltimore Ravens Face Backlash for Honoring Ray Rice a Decade After Domestic Violence Incident

The Baltimore Ravens are honoring Ray Rice, a former running back who was arrested nearly 10 years ago on domestic violence charges, as a “Legend of the Game.”

Ray Rice expresses gratitude on WJZ Purple Connection for being Ravens 'Legend of the Game' - CBS Baltimore - serqueux76.fr

Rice, who will receive the recognition at Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, played six seasons with the Ravens before his career ended in 2014 — when he was caught on video in an elevator punching his then-fiancée (now wife) Janay Palmer so hard that she hit her head on a handrail, and then dragged her out of the elevator.

Rice was part of the team’s 2013 Super Bowl win and was named to the Pro Bowl three times throughout his NFL career.

Ray Rice
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice walks onto the field before a game against the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore on Oct. 23, 2022.Lauren Bacho / AP

The Ravens announced the decision in an article on the team’s website that detailed Rice’s accomplishments in football as well as his efforts at redemption. Neither Rice nor a spokesperson for the Ravens responded immediately to a request for comment.

“Rice is being recognized for the player he was, and for the redemption he has worked towards,” the article stated. “Out of the public eye, Rice has been working on himself, his relationship, and within the community.”

The article did not expand on the “incident” that shocked the nation and ended his career but mentioned that it “put him in the center of a national conversation about domestic violence.”

A grand jury had indicted Rice on charges of third-degree aggravated assault, but the charges were dropped after he agreed to undergo court-supervised counseling. The NFL at first suspended Rice for two games, and later imposed a longer suspension.

“I didn’t get it right,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter that year, in which he announced a more severe domestic violence suspension policy for the league’s players. “Simply put, we have to do better. And we will.”

In an interview for the article on the team’s website, Rice tells the Ravens that he takes “full responsibility and accountability” for his actions in 2014. The article then details his efforts to unpack the incident, as well as his charitable community endeavors since he set out for redemption.

Miami Dolphins v Baltimore Ravens
Melvin Gordon III of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before a game against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday.Todd Olszewski / Getty Images

“I truly understand why I was let go and why so many hearts changed. But hopefully people can see where I’m at now,” Rice told the Ravens. “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.”

Talk of the Sound on X: "Ray Rice addresses domestic violence past as Ravens plans to honor ex-RB as 'legend' https://t.co/Dys2jbjhsa https://t.co/y8qvYDBowW" / X

Still, the Legend of the Game announcement stirred contention online, with some Ravens fans expressing eagerness to move past the incident and others criticizing the decision to adorn him with such an honor. Some also reshared video of the incident to remind others of a moment that shocked viewers when it was first released.

“I appreciate that Ray Rice has put in the work to better himself, his community, and his marriage,” one user posted on X. “However, one of the punishments for knocking your wife out in an elevator should be that you don’t get 70,000 people cheering your professional legacy.”

Related Posts

Archaeologists Uncover 3,000-Year-Old Noble Tomb in Northwest China, Revealing Scores of Ancient Fossils

In a ɡгoᴜпdЬгeаkіпɡ archaeological discovery, researchers have ᴜпeагtһed a 3,000-year-old Marquis tomЬ in Northwest China, revealing a treasure trove of historic artifacts and a ѕtᴜппіпɡ array of ancient horse foѕѕіɩѕ. This extгаoгdіпагу find offeгѕ …

Read more

Unearthing the Fossilized Remains of an Ancient Sea Monster and Its Vanquished Prey

The recent discovery of a fossilized sea moпѕteг and its ргeу has unveiled a captivating tale of predation and survival in ancient oceans. Carefully exсаⱱаted from layers of sediment, the fossil provides a glimpse into a primordial world where сoɩoѕѕаɩ …

Read more

Un perro sin hogar corre entre las vías del tren, buscando ayuda desesperadamente.

eга un gélido día de enero en St. Louis, Missouri, cuando los miembros del personal de Stray гeѕсᴜe of St. Louis (SRSL) vieron un perro blanco callejero corriendo por un tramo de vías de tren activas. El pobre cachorro estaba claramente en peligro …

Read more

Shocking Explosion Sends Shivers Through Witnesses

In a surreal blend of science fiction and reality, a startling rendezvous between a UFO and the legendary Egyptian Pyramids has left spectators in awe and disbelief. The event, punctuated by a sudden and powerful explosion, has ignited a storm of …

Read more

Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life Discovered in the Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert, a vast and arid expanse, has recently become the focal point of groundbreaking discoveries hinting at extraterrestrial origins. These findings, buried under the endless sand dunes, are causing a significant stir in the scientific …

Read more

Fossilized Leaf Imprints from 50 Million Years Ago Thrill Archaeologists!

Archaeologists are thrilled by the recent discovery of fossilized prehistoric leaf imprints on rock, dating back 50 million years. ᴜпeагtһed in a remote area, these ancient leaf imprints provide a гагe glimpse into the vegetation that flourished …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *