NFL PLAYER NEWS

Ravens bracing for Rice absence

The Sports Xchange

July 23, 2014 at 10:28 am.

Five Baltimore Ravens players, including Rice, were arrested this offseason. That's the most in the NFL, and one more than the Ravens' combined total over the previous six years. Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens are still waiting to hear from the NFL regarding a potential suspension for running back Ray Rice following a felony aggravated assault case this offseason.

Rice was involved in a domestic violence incident with his wife at an Atlantic City casino. The NFL has yet to rule on his status for the season, but a potential multigame suspension is expected.

“It’s not my decision to make, or any of us here,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “It’s in other people’s hands. I’m sure there’s a lot of complications making these kinds of decisions. There are many sides to every story, and there are a lot of factors. There are other people involved.

“There are other disciplinary situations involved around the league. That has to be weighed in and taken into context. You’re going to have to sort through that to be fair. I know the league is very judicious about that. They work really hard to do the right thing. I don’t think they worry about public opinion too much. They want to do the right thing by the people involved. We’ll see where it goes.”

The Ravens have contingency plans factoring in Rice being unavailable, including how they’ll utilize reserve running backs Bernard Pierce, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Justin Forsett. What they don’t know is how long Rice would be sidelined.

Harbaugh said he didn’t think that the uncertainty is having a negative effect on the team at this early stage of training camp, adding that practice repetitions won’t be altered at this point to account for Rice’s unresolved situation. By midway through the preseason, Harbaugh said the team will need to know Rice’s status.

“I don’t think it affects us until halfway through training camp maybe,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll just be business as usual until then. We’re installing for the first six days and working in situations through the first two preseason games. Once we get past the second preseason game, then we’ll need to know. Whenever they’re ready to let us know, then we’ll be ready to hear it.”

— Five Baltimore Ravens players, including Rice, were arrested this offseason. That’s the most in the NFL, and one more than the Ravens’ combined total over the previous six years.

That includes offensive lineman Jah Reid (misdemeanor battery, Key West, Fla., accepted into pretrial diversion program); wide receiver Deonte Thompson (felony possession of marijuana, Gainesville, Fla., case dismissed), Taliaferro (misdemeanor destruction of property, drunk in public, July 31 court date) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (misdemeanor disorderly conduct).

When asked how he has addressed the increased in off-field issues, Harbaugh replied: “I think the point has been made.”

Harbaugh said he has spoken with Smith about the situation, but declined to disclose the substance of what they talked about.

“It’s a private conversation,” Harbaugh said. “I understand what happened, I believe. I heard it from a lot of different sources. I haven’t thought about it since. I think I’ve given it the attention it deserves.”

— Six months after undergoing rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder, Pierce says he’s able to practice with no restrictions at training camp.

Pierce practiced during the offseason, but wasn’t fully cleared after having the damage to his shoulder repaired in January.

“My shoulder definitely got a lot better,” Pierce told The Baltimore Sun. “I know that this is when the real grind starts. It was strenuous today, but overall it was definitely helpful.”

Pierce is noticeably leaner than last winter, when he admitted he gained several pounds while recovering from the surgery. Pierce said he’s down to roughly 223 pounds.

“I’m probably back down near my rookie weight,” Pierce said.

Having Pierce in shape and at full health could be pivotal for the Ravens’ offense, especially early in the season when Rice may be suspended under the NFL personal-conduct policy.

“The running game is definitely a lot simpler than what we had the year before,” Pierce said. “We actually did this in college. I definitely like the zone scheme. I’m used to it. I got a knack for this kind of offense.”

— Reid practiced for the first time since straining his calf in the spring.

— NT Terrence Cody remains on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing offseason hip surgery. There’s no specific timetable for his activation.