Ray Rice hoping an NFL team gives him a second chance after winning appeal
Tuesday 2 December 2014 16:36, UK
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice still hopes to sign with another NFL team after taking "full responsibility" for a violent attack on his then-fiance.
The three-time Pro Bowler was reinstated to the NFL on Friday after winning his appeal against his indefinite suspension having had his contract terminated by the Ravens on September 9.
It remains unclear whether any team will sign the six-year veteran, but he told NBC's 'Today' program that a team owner would have to be "willing to look deeper into who I am and realize that me and my wife had one bad night.
"I took full responsibility for it. And one thing about my punishment and everything going along with anything that happened is that I've accepted it.
"I went fully forward with it. I never complained, or I never did anything like that...the only thing I can hope for and wish for is a second chance."
Rice's initial two-game suspension - given when footage emerged of Rice pulling an unconscious Janay Palmer from an elevator - was made indefinite when a second video was released showing him punching Janay Palmer in the Atlantic City lift.
An independent arbitrator ruled, however, that Rice was essentially punished twice for the same crime and was free to sign with any team.
Rice, who has since married Palmer, said: "We've had arguments, but when you talk about abuse, that's something that we know that we'd never cross that path.
"But then did we say things to each other that we want to take back at times? Yeah, we crossed that line before. But it never got to an altercation where it went that far. That was just very uncharacteristic of myself."
Rice, 27, is trying to recoup a portion of the $35m he lost when he was cut by the Ravens.
"If I never play football again, I'll be honest with you, I would adapt into life and I would sacrifice more so (Palmer) can have a better future."
