Ray Rice wants to build his image back up. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
As disgraced running back Ray Rice seeks another shot to play in the NFL, he is attempting to put his domestic violence incident behind him and convince everyone else he is not a “monster.”
“I realize that’s a battle I’m going to have to face for the rest of my life,” Rice told the Baltimore Sun in a story published Saturday. “Time does heal everything, but I don’t think people are going to forget this. I want people to not forget about the incident, but I want people to see there’s a human being on the other side. This is not a monster, a guy who’s a repeat offender. I’m not the guy they stereotype me to be. I’m (also) not excusing what I did.”
Rice was charged last year with felony aggravated assault after he knocked out his then-fiancee and now-wife, Janay, with a punch in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. In a standard plea deal for such cases, Rice avoided jail time through a pretrial intervention program.
Rice said the hate he felt from the public sent him into a nearly suicidal state of mind.
“You almost want to punish yourself,” he said. “I know I’m never going to win the battle of public opinion. Honestly, I almost felt like at one point that it wasn’t worth living. I see why people commit suicide. It hurt that bad. I was low, real low. It hurt that bad because you worked your whole life to do all the right things and then you’re the world’s most hated person.”
Rice, who was released by the Baltimore Ravens in the wake of the assault, said he is intent on returning to the league to finish on his terms.
“I don’t want my career to be defined by this one moment,” he said. “I’ve been smart with money and the NFL is a great-paying game, but I really want to get back out there for my pride and to be able to leave the game with dignity. I don’t ever want to feel exiled out, because I wasn’t that guy. … I know I’m not ready to call it quits yet.”
It remains to be seen whether another team gives Rice a chance — not only because he could be a PR nightmare but because there is a question of whether he can still be an effective running back at age 28.
After four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Ravens, Rice rushed for just 660 yards in 2013, averaging 3.1 per carry. He said he played most of that season with a torn quadriceps.
—Quarterback Josh McCown will make the same amount in his first year in Cleveland as he was slated to make in Tampa Bay before the Buccaneers released him.
His three-year contract with the Browns is worth $14 million, with $5.25 million due in 2015, according to reports. Overall, the deal guarantees $6.25 million and could be worth up to $20 million.
McCown chose the Cleveland Browns over the Buffalo Bills on Friday.
McCown, a 12-year veteran released by the Bucs on Feb. 11, had talked with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets as well, and he reportedly was close to a deal with the Bills on Thursday before the Browns began recruiting him heavily.
McCown, 35, appears to be the Browns’ starter for now, with 2014 first-round pick Johnny Manziel in rehab and 2014 starter Brian Hoyer a pending free agent.
—Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne underwent surgery to repair a torn triceps and reportedly doesn’t know yet if his NFL career has reached its conclusion.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the 36-year-old Wayne is beginning rehab for the injury and still mulling whether to play in 2015.
Wayne played in 15 regular-season games for the Colts in 2014, totaling 779 yards on 64 catches with two touchdowns.
Wayne becomes a free agent on March 10 and apparently there has been no talk of any contract discussions with the Colts.
