Is Ray Rice Still in the NFL?

As of right now, Ray Rice is not currently signed to an NFL team. He was most recently a member of the Baltimore Ravens, but was released from the team in 2014 after a video surfaced of him assaulting his then-fiancée.

Introduction

Ray Rice is a former American football running back who played for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Rutgers, and was considered one of the best running backs in the country. He was on the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII-winning team. In July 2014, he was charged with third-degree aggravated assault stemming from an incident in which he allegedly assaulted his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer, in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. The charges were later dropped after Rice agreed to attend counseling.

On September 8, 2014, a video surfaced depicting Rice dragging Palmer’s body out of an elevator at the Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. The Ravens released Rice that same day, and he was subsequently suspended indefinitely by the NFL. In November 2014, Rice appealed his suspension, and was voted on and approved by a panel including retired Judge Barbara S. Jones to be reinstated back into the NFL on November 28, 2014; however no team has since signed him.

Ray Rice’s Domestic Violence Case

In September 2014, a video was released of then Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then fiancée in the face. The NFL initially suspended him for two games, but after public outcry and the release of the video, they suspended him indefinitely. Rice appealed the decision and was reinstated in November 2014. He has not been signed by a team since then and his future in the NFL is uncertain.

The Assault

Ray Rice, a former running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was caught on camera assaulting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in an elevator in February 2014. The couple married a month after the incident.
Rice was charged with third-degree aggravated assault and was accepted into a pretrial intervention program, which allowed him to avoid jail time. He was also suspended from the NFL for two games.

The NFL has been criticized for its handling of Rice’s case, as some have said that the punishment was too lenient. In September 2014, after audio and video of the assault surfaced, Rice was released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

The Aftermath

The Ray Rice domestic violence case was one of the most widely publicized cases of its kind in recent years. After a video surfaced of Rice punching his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in an elevator, he was suspended from the NFL and released by the Baltimore Ravens.

The NFL came under fire for its handling of the case, and Rice has not been signed by another team since. He has filed an appeal of his suspension, but it is unclear if he will ever play in the NFL again.

Ray Rice’s NFL Career

Ray Rice is a former American football running back. He played college football at Rutgers, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections in 2008 and 2011. After he was arrested for assaulting his then-fiancée in an elevator in 2014, he was released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

Pre-Assault

Ray Rice is a former professional American football player who played running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers, and was drafted by the Ravens in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was considered one of the best running backs in the NFL before he was released by the Ravens in 2014 after a highly publicized domestic violence incident involving him and his then-fiancée, Janay Palmer.

Rice attended New Rochelle High School, where he played football, basketball, and track. He was some what of a late bloomer in playing organized football as he did not start on his high school’s varsity team until his junior year. Nevertheless, Rice had an outstanding career. In his senior year, he was awarded All-State honors and was named Conference Player of the Year.

Rice’s successful high school campaign led to college scholarship offers from numerous Division I programs including Michigan State, UCLA, Iowa State, Syracuse, and Rutgers. He chose to attend Rutgers University on a full scholarship program due to their coaching staff’s persistence in recruiting him despite his modest credentials at that point.

Post-Assault

After the assault, Ray Rice’s football career was ended. He was released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL. In September 2014, a new video emerged of the assault, which led to widespread criticism of the NFL’s handling of the situation. Rice was reinstated to the NFL in November 2014 but has not been signed by a team since then.

The NFL’s Response to Domestic Violence

In light of the NFL’s recent domestic violence scandals, many people are wondering if Ray Rice is still in the NFL. Rice was cut from the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 after a video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancee in an elevator. He was then suspended by the NFL for two games. After additional footage of the incident was released, the NFL suspended Rice indefinitely. He has not been with a team since.

Pre-Ray Rice

The National Football League (NFL) has a long history of players being accused or convicted of domestic violence. According to a 2015 Washington Post article, “More than one in eight NFL players have been arrested on a violent charge since 2000.” In 2014, there were at least 27 domestic violence incidents involving NFL players.

Some of the more notable cases prior to the Ray Rice incident include:
-In 2012, then-San Francisco 49ers cornerback Perrish Cox was charged with sexual assault stemming from an incident in 2010. He was later cut by the team and never played in the NFL again.
-In 2013, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before killing himself.
-Also in 2013, then-Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith was suspended for one game after swinging his helmet at then-Miami Dolphins lineman Richie Incognito during a preseason game.

Post-Ray Rice

Ever since the release of the Ray Rice elevator video, the NFL has been embroiled in a domestic violence scandal. The NFL has been criticized for its handling of the Ray Rice case and other cases of domestic violence involving NFL players. In the wake of the scandal, the NFL has instituted new policies regarding domestic violence.

Conclusion

Yes, Ray Rice is still in the NFL. He is currently a free agent.