Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has issued an apology to the city of Baltimore and fans of the team. Almost a year to the day of the Atlantic City incident that thrust he and his then-finaceé-now-wife Janay Rice into the national spotlight over his arrest for domestic violence.
“The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives,” Rice said in a letter issued to The Baltimore Sun. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown my family and I throughout my football career. We’ll always be grateful for the love we’ve received from all of our fans and supporters, and for winning a Super Bowl.
“To all the kids who looked up to me, I’m truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it’s helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare. There is no excuse for domestic violence, and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives by raising awareness of this issue.”
He went on to thank the Ravens organization, owner Steve Bisciotti, general manager Ozzie Newsome and coach John Harbaugh.
“I love you all very much, and I’ll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens,”
The Baltimore Sun states that Rice is moving to New York to begin his quest for a fresh start and new NFL team.
His apology comes after news he was offered $1 million to be part of a ProDraftLeague.com, an online fantasy league per TMZ Sports. Rice would be required to film commercials, do interviews and provide football analysis.
