NFL player Ray Rice fired after domestic violence video released

Football player Ray Rice was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday and suspended indefinitely by the National Football League (NFL) after a video was released showing the running back striking his then-fiancee in February. The grainy video, released by TMZ Sports, shows Rice and Janay Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. The couple hit each other before Rice knocks Palmer, now his wife, off her feet. She hits the railing and then the floor.

It’s something we saw for the first time today, all of us. It changed things, of course. It made things a little bit different.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh

Several months ago, a separate TMZ video showed Rice dragging Palmer from the elevator at the Revel casino. Earlier Monday, the Ravens said they had never seen the new video. A few hours later, they sent out a one-sentence press release: “The Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of RB Ray Rice this afternoon.” At his usual Monday news conference, coach John Harbaugh said that he, owner Steve Bisciotti, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome had made the decision to release Rice after watching the video. This represents a turnaround for the Ravens, who had supported Rice through the incident and after his two-game suspension by the NFL. But Harbaugh stressed that he would be there to help Ray and Janay Rice in the future.

It is hurtful. My pain is for both of them as a couple, going forward. My hope is that they can make it work.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh

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