It suited the Ravens to employ Ray Rice, until he went from an ordinary domestic abuser to the protagonist of that nightmare elevator video. And now it suits them to trot him out again, to trumpet how well they are educating their rookies, raising awareness about partner violence and supporting redemption narrative in the community.
The team said Rice spoke to Ravens rookies about life lessons after practice on Wednesday. According to ESPN, it’s believed to be Rice’s first appearance at the Ravens facility since he became radioactive in NFL circles and was cut in September 2014.
“Our 27 sessions to our rookies through our player engagement program review and teach life management and life lessons,” the Ravens said in a statement. “Rice, who played for the Ravens from 2008-2014, delivered an important message that included his story, both the good and the bad. He clearly had the attention of our rookies.”
Rice’s wife, Janay, accompanied him to the facility. She is 26 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child. Rice has not played football since TMZ published security footage of Rice knocking Janay unconscious with a punch in an Atlantic City hotel elevator. The Ravens paid him $1.588 million last year to settle a wrongful-termination grievance.
These are real excerpts from how the Ravens described the visit in a story on the team’s website:
“The team brings in speakers from all walks of life and experiences to educate their new, young players. Who better to speak to the potential peaks and valleys of an NFL career – and life?”
“Rice was beloved by his teammates and the Baltimore community during his time with the Ravens. On Feb. 15, 2014, he made a terrible mistake…”
“After the incident happened, the Ravens dedicated themselves to the cause of domestic violence awareness and education.”
Rice’s apparent commitment to activism, in the wake of his assault and in the absence of NFL pay days, is theoretically good. But the packaging of his private speaking engagement for public consumption is enough to make you wonder if he really was brought in to benefit the Ravens’ rookies — or their corporate PR.