Rice using ‘terrible decision’ as lesson
Ex-RB: Speaking on domestic violence is his second chance.
Unsigned for two years since the release of the horrific video of him punching his then-fiancee, Ray Rice says his second chance has come through his choice to speak out against domestic violence.
The former Baltimore running back still wants to resume his NFL career, and he doesn’t begrudge Greg Hardy for getting the opportunity that he so far hasn’t. Rice just wishes the former Dallas defensive end had used the platform of playing the same way Rice has tried to make amends.
“What I wanted to see him do with his second chance would have been a lot different,” Rice said Wednesday after joining a Big 12 Conference-sponsored panel to discuss violence against women on college campuses.
The same week that the now-unsigned Hardy was arrested on a cocaine possession charge in a Dallas suburb, Rice made his latest appearance to discuss his life since the videos that derailed his career.
The first showed his nowwife, Janay Rice, being dragged unconscious out of a hotel elevator in New Jersey. The second showed the punch that knocked her out, leading to his release by the Ravens and an indefinite suspension from the NFL. That ban was overturned in court, but another team hasn’t signed him.
A Super Bowl winner following the 2012 season, Rice played his last game on Dec. 29, 2013.
“I think the one thing I can take from it is I’m not out there saying I deserve a second chance,” said Rice, who has 6,180 yards rushing in six seasons. “I used to have control over that, my playing days. But I know that’s out of my control. And I think what I control now is how many people can I help, whether I’m playing or not.”To those who question his motives, Rice points to his stable family life — his wife, 4-year-old daughter and infant son.
“I don’t have a situation at home that’s broken,” Rice said. “I have a wife and I have a son and I have a daughter that have to grow up with their father, who made a terrible decision in life. And I have to explain that to them.”
Tigers-Indians postponement: Thursday’s game between the Detroit and Cleveland was postponed because of bad weather, and the teams could have to squeeze in a makeup game Monday if it could affect who makes the postseason. Detroit entered Thursday one game behind Baltimore for the AL’s second wild card.
Giants: Infielder Eduardo Nunez still hopes to return from a hamstring injury this weekend for the season-ending series against the Dodgers as San Francisco pursues a wild-card berth, but manager Bruce Bochy considers it “questionable.”
Nationals: Pitcher Joe Ross, working his way back from the disabled list for the NL East champions, threw 90 pitches in a four-inning start Thursday against the Diamondbacks.
Dodgers: Left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu underwent an arthroscopic cleanup of his left elbow and is expected to be ready for the 2017 season.
Blue Jays: DH/first baseman Jesus Montero was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a stimulant, his second penalty for a banned substance. Montero spent this season with Toronto’s Triple-A Buffalo team, batting .317 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs.
Padres: Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit the first home run in Petco Park history to land on the roof of the brick warehouse during Wednesday night’s victory over the Dodgers.
Diamondbacks: Second baseman Jean Segura left Thursday’s game with a cramp, slowing his bid to set the franchise single-season record for hits. Segura has 201 hits, five short of Luis Gonzalez’s record in 1999.
Angels: Right-hander Garrett Richards threw off the mound to hitters for the first time since tearing his ulnar collateral ligament May 1. Richards will throw another bullpen session this weekend before continuing his rehabilitation in the instructional league.