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 Videos of the 28-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler's workouts have been
sent to NFL teams, as Rice crosses his fingers that executives will
give him a second chance.
General managers are wringing their hands contemplating whether Rice
can still deliver on the gridiron and, if he were signed, would he
be an unwanted distraction off the field, NFL analysts say.
"Ray Rice deserves a chance to prove he's a quality individual,"
said Rick "Doc" Walker, a retired nine-year NFL veteran and member
of the 1983 Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins.
"I say that because prior to the incident with his fiancee, he
showed he was a great guy in the community... On the field, his body
of work will have to command some attention."
Rice became the poster boy for the NFL's domestic abuse problems
when he delivered a one-punch knockout to his fiancee during a fight
in an Atlantic City casino elevator in February 2014.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Rice for two games but when
video of the punch went viral, he suspended the running back
indefinitely and the Ravens released him.
After the public saw the video, Goodell was excoriated by the public
for the light penalties he customarily gave to players who committed
domestic violence. The sharp criticism led to a strengthening of the
sanctions and an overhaul of the league's Personal Conduct Policy.
WAITING FOR THE PHONE TO RING
Although Rice took the case to federal court and had his suspension
overturned in November, no team has yet offered Rice a roster spot.
Rice, a six-year NFL veteran who possesses a combination of speed,
quickness and strength, continues to sit by the phone with training
camps set to begin next month. His agent, Todd France, has been
contacting teams looking to get Rice a tryout.
Rita Smith, a former executive director of the National Coalition
Against Domestic Violence and now a consultant to the NFL, said Rice
deserves a second chance - with conditions.
"He's paid a pretty huge price just because his particular case was
so much more public than anyone else's," she said.
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"This is probably his last chance, if he gets one. It's up to him
whether or not he makes the best of this. He needs to show that he's
learned something about the actions that he took that night."
Former NFL player Walker said Rice's chance to re-enter the league
could be hurt by the changing nature of the game, where running
backs are not the hot commodity they used to be. Also, Rice sat out
last season and his 2013 campaign was the least productive of his
career.
Sally Jenkins, a Washington Post columnist who writes on women's
issues, said Rice "deserves the same chance that any other working
person does."
"We give people second chances all the time, if they've completed
programs and therapies, whether you're a Hollywood executive, an NFL
player or a hedge-funder ... I don't think you can deprive someone
of their entire career and their livelihood based on a one-off."
Six-time Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson, the 2012 NFL MVP, was welcomed
back to the Minnesota Vikings last month after sitting out all but
one game last year over legal issues for whipping his son with a
tree switch as a form of discipline.
"The better player always gets the benefit of the doubt," said
Walker.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Steve
Orlofsky)
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