OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ray Rice’s effort at damage control Friday didn’t appear to control much of the damage.
Speaking for the first time since being arrested for knocking his fiancee unconscious at an Atlantic City casino in February, a tearful Rice provided plenty of self-pity to go along with his apologies during a 10-minute afternoon “press conference” at the Ravens’ practice facility here.
Rice, a New Rochelle native who starred at Rutgers before becoming a three-time Pro Bowl running back for Baltimore, declined to take any questions from the overflow crowd of media and made at least one inappropriate analogy during his prepared statement.
“Sometimes, you will fail,” Rice said as his now-wife, Janay Palmer, sat stone-faced by his side and his mother and infant daughter watched from the audience. “But I won’t call myself a failure. A failure is not getting knocked down, it’s not getting up.”
But “knocked down” is exactly what Rice did to his wife Feb. 15 at Revel Casino in an ugly incident caught on security cameras. Rice, 27, also was taped dragging his unconscious wife out of an elevator.
Rice was later charged with third-degree aggravated assault, but prosecutors earlier this week allowed him to enter a pre-trial intervention program reserved for first-time offenders. Rice can have the assault charge dismissed if he completes the one-year arrangement.
Rice, though, still faces the possibility of a suspension by the Ravens or NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s conduct policy.
Rice apologized to the team, his fans and “the kids” — conspicuously leaving out his wife — before touting the value of the counseling he has received since the incident.
“Though we know that no relationship is perfect, me and Janay want the world to see what counseling has done for us,” Rice said, who added he and his wife have become “better parents … better lovers and also better friends throughout the situation.”
Rice also acknowledged the toll the incident has taken on his personal marketing efforts.
“I know many of my supporters and sponsors acted as they don’t want to be in partnership with me, and that’s my fault,” Rice said. “I take full responsibility for that. One thing that I do know is that I’m working every day to be a better father, a better husband and just a better role model.”
Palmer, who was initially ticketed by Atlantic City police along with Rice for simple assault-domestic violence, also spoke Friday and apologized — apparently for provoking Rice to punch her.
“I do deeply regret the role that I played in the incident that night, but I can say that I am happy that we continue to work through it together,” Palmer said. “I love Ray, and I know he will continue to prove himself and gain the respect he built up.”
https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/469918292061061120
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, coach John Harbaugh and GM Ozzie Newsome didn’t attend Rice’s press conference Friday because of what the club said were “other commitments,” but the team has offered vocal public support for its star back since the incident.
Rice said Friday he hopes to return the favor.
“Hopefully, one day I’ll gain back everyone’s trust to let you know we’re still the same people and I’m still the same person,” Rice said. “I really treat my job as a very special job, and I failed miserably. But I wouldn’t call myself a failure, because I’m working my way back up.”