Not once has Ray Rice played in Giants Stadium, though he hails from New Rochelle and starred at Rutgers.
Rice has been to the place for a concert. But this Sunday the Ravens rookie running back and local legend will be on the field at Giants Stadium, coming home to try to scamper past Justin Tuck and Co. when the Ravens battle the Giants.
“I don’t have any idea,” Rice said when asked how much he’ll be featured, “but I know I’ll be part of the gameplan.”
Odds are, Rice might fare pretty well. He was the Ravens’ second-round pick this year (55th overall selection). Only four AFC teams have put up more points than the 6-3 Ravens, and Rice has contributed to the attack.
Through nine games, Rice has racked up 356 yards rushing and caught 20 passes for 190 yards receiving. He’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 9.5 yards per catch. “I think it’s going as expected,” Rice told The Post in a phone interview this week. “It’s just a learning process for me. The physical stuff takes care of itself, but when you actually know the game, like a guy on our team, like Ray Lewis, you can’t outsmart that guy.”
Rice wasn’t sure exactly how many people he’d have cheering for him on Sunday, “but I know it’s going to be a lot.” Of course, while Rice says he’ll catch up with his family and will likely grab a bite with them, he said, “My main focus will be on the game.”
Rice grew up 25 minutes from Giants Stadium, following the Giants – as well as the Jets – as a kid. He became acquaintances with Tiki Barber in high school and college. Said the 5-foot-8 Rice of the diminutive Barber, “He wasn’t a big guy but the way he ran was great.”
Rice never went to a Giants or Jets game as a kid. In fact, his opening-week debut against the Bengals was the first NFL game he had ever been to.
That day, Rice ran for 64 yards, which is tied for his second-highest total this season. His highlight this year was a 21-carry 154-yard breakout against the Browns two games ago, an effort that earned him a game ball.
One thing Rice hasn’t managed yet is his first touchdown. Imagine if it came Sunday.”It’s pretty exciting for me,” Rice said. “Growing up as a kid, watching the Giants and being a fan of them, now I get to play against ’em. It feels like home up there so it’ll definitely be fun.”