Ozzie: Ray Rice Situation To Change Ravens Hiring Practices #StateOfTheRavens

Team Owner Says 2014 Was His Worse Year Ever

OWINGS MILLS, MD. -- At the annual State of The Ravens press conference, team officials were very candid. In speaking  about the lasting effects of the domestic abuse charges against star running back Ray Rice, they mentioned changes in how new players would be seleceted.

According to general manager Ozzie Newsome, evaluation of  prospective players will be critical if they have a history of domestic violence. "Someone who has domestic abuse in their background, it's going to be tough for them to be considered a Raven," Newsome said Tuesday in the annual State of the Ravens news conference.

"We were treating domestic violence the same we did a bar fight, and that was a mistake," team president Dick Cass said. "That was wrong. I think the league has recognized that. We certainly recognized that. That's an offense that will be treated very differently going forward."

The yearlong Ray Rice scandal and multiple arrests within the Baltimore Ravens organization weighed on owner Steve Bisciotti more than any other season.

It was so tumultuous that Bisciotti joked about being on "suicide watch."

"It was my worst year as an owner," Bisciotti said Tuesday at the annual State of the Ravens news conference. "I had 14 good years, and then I had an absolute crappy year."


Last year, Rice's domestic violence incident dominated national news. Team officials supported Rice for months last offseason before abruptly cutting the running back in September after a video of him hitting his future wife was released publicly.

Source: ESPN.com

NFL = Not Freaking Likely -- Prospects For Ray Rice Signing Seem Slim

Knock Out Punch To Then-Fiancee May Have KO'd Career Completely

Filed by A.F James MacArthur
17 February 2015
MACARTHUR INDEPENDENT NEWS SERVICE

BALTIMORE -- (MINS)  Despite having won a legal battle with the National Football League, things are not looking good for Ray Rice.

The chances of seeing the one time Baltimore Ravens star running back, ever wear a uniform, or rush down the field again, seem to grow slimmer everyday.

As a free agent, Rice is free to sign to any of the 32 teams in the league, including back again with the Ravens, but he comes with baggage. Lots of baggage.

The legal system may have been lenient, but the league looks like they're showing no mercy.

Since being reinstated by an independent arbitrator's ruling in November, not one single team has expressed interest in Rice.

According to Jamison Hensley, writing for ESPN.com; "Rice can say 'one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare,' but that's only part of the reason he remains unemployed. What can't be overlooked is that he's a 28-year-old runner (an age often seen as over the hill for that position) with a lot of wear and tear. He had the fourth-worst rushing average (3.1 yards per carry) in the NFL the last time he suited up."

Read More

A year later, Ray Rice may have to face harsh reality. ESPN.com

Ray Rice statement to fans in The Baltimore Sun apologizing for his "horrible mistake."