Ray Rice issues statement apologizing for domestic abuse incident

With the one-year anniversary of Ray Rice’s punch-out of Janay Palmer (now Janay Rice) in an elevator approaching, the former Baltimore Ravens and Rutgers running back issued a statement Friday morning to the Baltimore Sun, apologizing for the domestic abuse incident which was captured on video.

Rice, who slugged Palmer in an Atlantic City casino on Feb. 15, apologized to the city of Baltimore, the Ravens and children who saw him as a role model. The disgraced — and jobless — running back also called his time in Baltimore "by far the best" in his family's lives.

At the time of the assault, Palmer was his fiancee. She later became his wife who has defended her husband against media criticism.

Addressed to the city of Baltimore, here's the full statement Rice released, according to the Baltimore Sun:

Dear Baltimore,

This is not a farewell or goodbye. The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the love and support you've shown my family and I throughout my football career. We'll always be grateful for the love we've received from all of our fans and supporters, and for winning a Super Bowl. To all the kids who looked up to me, I'm truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it's helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare. There is no excuse for domestic violence, and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope to make a positive difference in people's lives by raising awareness of this issue. Thank you, Baltimore Ravens, for all you have done for my family and I. I'm very grateful to Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, John Harbaugh, and everyone at 1 Winning Drive. I love you all very much, and I'll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens.

Thank you.

-- Ray Rice

The 28-year-old Rice hasn't had any opportunities to rejoin an NFL team despite being free to sign since the latter weeks of last season.

Call Rice's shame the Valentines Day gift that keeps giving or — more precisely — the one that will keep coming back.

Eminem references Ray Rice punching wife in rap song (VIDEO)

In a shocking new video, rapper Eminem fantasizes about assaulting pop star Lana Del Rey in a freestyle rap for his greatest hits compilation and, in the same line, he refers to disgraced Baltimore Ravens NFL player, Ray Rice — who was caught on camera knocking out his girlfriend and dragging her limp body out of an elevator — to describe the scene.

"But I may fight for gay rights, especially if the [bleep] is more of a knockout than Janay Rice.

Play nice? ...  I'll punch Lana Del Rey right in the face twice," Eminem raps in the video.

"Like Ray Rice in broad daylight in the plain sight of the elevator surveillance. 'Til her head is banging on the railing, then celebrate with the Ravens."

Here's the video. The Rice lyrics begin about 3:55. WARNING: Extreme profanity and obscenity.

The rapper's lyrics opened up the Twitter floodgates with everyone from angry Lana Del Rey fans to Eminem fans who found nothing wrong.

Shocking that Eminem, who made a name for himself as a violent misogynist rapper, is again in the news for being a violent misogynist rapper
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) November 11, 2014

Eminem is literally a god, if you haven't watched the new shady cypher you are trippin the greatest rapper to ever live past and present
— RonnieRadke (@RonnieRadke) November 11, 2014

The video was released just a day before news broke that Rice would end his silence on the incident and do an interview with Matt Lauer on the "Today" show.

White House condemns Ray Rice after shocking video of NFL star punching Janay Palmer emerges: Report

It seems President Obama has condemned Ray Rice in no uncertain terms after shocking video of the former Baltimore Ravens running back punching his then fiancée Janay Palmer emerged on Monday.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest's released a short statement following consultations with the president, after TMZ released the shocking footage of Rice punching Palmer (now his wife) unconscious in an Atlantic City elevator in February.

And while the statement doesn't mention Rice by name, it came right after the running back was released by his NFL team:

"The President is the father of two daughters. And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society," said the statement.

"Hitting a woman is not something a real man does, and that's true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors.

"Stopping domestic violence is something that's bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it."

Obama greeted Rice and his teammates at the White House last year after the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII.

Ray Rice's shocking punch to fiancee's face inside elevator emerges (VIDEO)

Everyone has already seen the aftermath of Ray Rice's argument with his fiancee Janay Palmer when he dragged her out of an Atlantic City elevator last winter. Now new footage of the NFL player actually landing a punch to Palmer's face inside the elevator has surfaced and the NFL reportedly saw it before handing down its weak two-game suspension as punishment.

TMZ Sports has obtained raw video of the vicious punch that knocked his then-fiancee (now wife) out — surely adding more controversy to Roger Goodell's wrist-slap of a penalty for Rice's brutal attack — in light of the league's tougher stand on domestic violence.

An employee of the hotel  — which just shut down for good -- tells TMZ Sports he was working there at the time and says the NFL saw the elevator footage before imposing the 2-game suspension.

The Feb. 15th incident took place at the Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City — after the Baltimore Ravens running back and Palmer got into a heated argument on their way into the elevator. 

Inside the elevator it's apparent he strikes first ... she hits back ... and then Rice delivers the knockout blow.

The punch knocks Palmer off her feet — and she smashes her head on the elevator hand rail — knocking her out cold. An seemingly unfazed Ray then drags the unconscious woman out of the elevator into the hotel lobby.

After facing the media together, Ray and Palmer got married one month after the attack. 

The gossip site said it has reached out to the NFL for comment several times about the new footage but has not received a response.

 

Ray Rice marries fiancee the day after indictment for aggravated assault: Report

Ray Rice married Janay Palmer on Friday — one day after the Ravens running back was indicted for aggravated assault for allegedly knocking his then-fiancée unconscious, according to an ESPN report.

Rice and Palmer were arrested and charged with simple assault-domestic violence after an incident at the Revel Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City on Feb. 15. 

Rice was indicted Thursday by an Atlantic Country grand jury for one count of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony that carries a potential penalty of 3-5 years of imprisonment. Veteran New Jersey defense attorney Richard Klineburger told NJ.com it's "highly unlikely" Rice will serve prison time because he has no prior record.

The simple assault charge against Palmer was dismissed on Thursday. It has been reported that Palmer doesn't want to move forward with the case against Rice.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said earlier this month that the couple had plans to attend counseling. The organization has supported Rice, a six-year veteran running back, throughout the process.

ESPN reported that Friday's ceremony had been planned for a couple of weeks.

Bills linebacker Brandon Spikes criticized Rice on Twitter, saying the marriage was only an attempt to "save his image."

I don’t see how anyone can respect him. Put your hands on a woman. The woman that had ur child 😳😳😳 #EyeContact
— BrandonSpikes51 (@BrandonSpikes51) March 29, 2014

Harbaugh says Ray Rice, fiancee to attend couples seminar: Report

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his fiancee plan to attend a couples seminar as they continue to work on their relationship following a physical altercation between them in February at an Atlantic City casino, according to coach John Harbaugh.

Rice and Janay Palmer were both arrested and charged with simple assault-domestic violence after the February 15 incident. The couple remains engaged to be married, according to Harbaugh.

Harbaugh said that Rice's account of what transpired between him and the mother of his child has remained the same and has matched up with the information the team has gathered about the pending legal situation.

"I've talked to Ray a lot, and really nothing to add other than what's been said already: The facts will determine the consequences, and we'll see where it goes," Harbaugh said Wednesday at a press conference for tight end Dennis Pitta. "I haven't seen anything different, just like you haven't seen anything different. Ray has told me his side of it, and everything we've seen so far is very consistent with what he said."

"There's nothing he has said that hasn't turned out to be the case. I know Ray is going to spend a week at a seminar type of thing as a couples type deal," he added. " He's doing everything he can to do what he needs to do and make things right."

Rice's court appearance was postponed after police referred the case to prosecutors for review. No new date has been set.

Atlantic City police have said they asked the county prosecutor's office to review the case and "ensure appropriate charges are considered." That review is ongoing, officials with the Atlantic County Office of the Prosecutor said Wednesday.

The NFL will review what happened under the league's personal-conduct policy.

At the NFL scouting combine in February, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome addressed the TMZ video that shows Rice dragging an unconscious Palmer from an elevator at Revel Casino, admitting it was a troubling image.

But Newsome said that he was encouraged that Rice and his fiancee are in counseling.