Despite his atrocious actions toward his then-fiancee, where he knocked her unconscious in a casino elevator, former Baltimore Ravens sunning back Ray Rice may face a possible reinstatement next month. After being suspended indefinitely (of course, disgustingly, that was only after being suspended two games at first) and released by the Ravens, Rice has set up an appeal date and expects a quick decision that could allow him to play sometime around the middle of November. Of course, that is provided that another NFL team wants to sign Rice, who not only comes along with a ton of baggage, but also with rapidly declining skills. If a team wants to gamble on signing Rice, and actually feels as if the potential rewards outweigh the risks and negative attention, then they may get to roll the dice within the coming weeks. Yet, despite the speculation to the contrary, I see absolutely zero chance that the New England Patriots sign Rice.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports threw out the idea in a column yesterday morning. I say we throw it right back at him.
“Numerous legal experts I’ve spoken to believe Rice has an exceedingly strong case, and, considering it could be Week 10 or so before this hearing is resolved, it’s hard for them to conceive that Rice isn’t reinstated by Jones as part of her decision,” writes La Canfora. “If he is, would a team like the Colts, coached by former Ravens assistant Chuck Pagano who thinks highly of Rice, or New England, where Bill Belichick has very strong ties to Rice’s college coach, Greg Schiano, take a chance on Rice if they need a running back down the stretch?”
I don’t see it happening.
I will admit that the Patriots have taken chances on “bad boys” in the past. They have signed or traded for players such as Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, Albert Haynesworth and Aqib Talib. Many of those players made the Pats a much better team. Others were basically irrelevant.
The difference between all of those players and Rice is that none of them ever struck their fiancée. None of them dragged their significant other’s lifeless body out of an elevator, all while showing zero remorse. None of them were forced to hold a press conference to apologize for such a deplorable crime, yet never once apologized to the victim.
Belichick does have strong ties to Schiano. It was one of the main reasons that New England traded for Talib. And, yes, they did lose Stevan Ridley to an injury for the rest of the season. But, no, I see absolutely no way that the Patriots sign Rice.
I think Aaron Hernandez may have changed their stance of bringing in potential reclamation projects. I am not saying the two are related, but New England will not and cannot risk rostering another player with that sort of baggage.
How do we know that she was really knocked out by a blow from Ray or just drunk. Who saw bruises on her face. She looked good to me.
Rob, I liked the article but disagree with a few things you stated. “Ton of baggage”? I don’t think so. As bad as it was, it is one incident, his fiancee married him after the incident, she is his greatest supporter, he has no other incidents on his record, no drugs, no lockerroom misconduct and no other criminal incidents on his record. That does not equal a “ton of baggage”.
Second; “declining skills”? In 2012 he ran for over 1000 yards and had decent but not great receiving yards but in 2013, he and Pierce failed behind a makeshift offensive line with a center and left guard that could not block a tuna sandwich, a confusing scheme (half power blocking and half zone stretch blocking) with personnel on the line that could not execute either scheme properly, wide outs that could not block down field and tight-ends that couldn’t block. How can you justify the statement that Rice’s skills are declining?
Third; New England is unlikely to take him, not because of conduct but they don’t need him. However, he will have at least 4-5 suitors (Buffalo, Chicago, Minnesota, Kansas City and Miami).
.Finally, I think the Patriots Front Office and Coaching Staff are savvy enough to not equate Hernandez (proven thug who allegedly committed multiple murders) with Ray Rice (one incident of domestic battery with no history of other transgressions). New England will probably pass on Rice because he does not appear to fit what they are doing. I would bet on the Bills or Bears.
Ken Jackson