So the Baltimore Ravens, home to exiled running back Ray Rice, now are waiting on another running back to get in shape so they can sign him.
Such is the plight of Rice's hopes for a return to the NFL.
Ravens Giving Out Of League Running Back Chance To Return, But It's Not Ray Rice
The Ravens still are planning on signing former 2012 Cleveland Browns first-round draft choice Trent Richardson, after initially coming to an agreement last month, according to baltimoreravens.com.
The reason Baltimore hasn't already signed Richardson? Apparently, he's still trying to get into playing shape.
Someone Tried To Sell TMZ Sex Tape Of Trent Richardson
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"I'm planning on Trent being a Raven right now," coach John Harbaugh told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Florida, baltimoreravens.com reported. "We have an unofficial agreement with Trent. Hopefully, no one will come in and swoop him away from us."
Harbaugh added that he has kept in contact with Richardson and continues to encourage him to "get into strong physical shape," baltimoreravens.com added.
"It's in Trent's court. Ozzie and Trent have talked a lot. I text with Trent all the time. He's keeping me posted on his training," Harbaugh said. "I'm kind of excited about it. Talking on the phone, I really liked him. He's a high-caliber, high-draft pick guy and it seems like he's really motivated. Wants to do well."
Richardson, the 2011 Doak Walker Award winner for Alabama, rushed for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns his rookie season in Cleveland in 2012. The Indianapolis Colts traded a first-round pick for him in 2013, but they released him after the 2014 season after he rushed for 977 yards in two seasons and had some off-the-field issues with the team.
He landed in the Oakland Raiders training camp in 2015 but was out of shape and cut before the season.
Rice, meanwhile, whom the Ravens are extremely familiar after a six-year partnership, stays in shape in hopes of attracting one team that will take a chance on signing him.
Rice has been out of the league since 2014, when TMZ posted video of him punching his then-girlfriend in a casino elevator. The girlfriend, Janay Palmer, ended up marrying him.
If ever a team would give the embattled Rice a chance, it would seem to be the team that knows him better than anyone. Whether the Ravens' refusal to give Rice another chance because of issues beyond his domestic violence incident is unclear.
But Rice has to feel somewhat demoralized that his former team is hoping another washed-out running back gets in shape so he can be signed.
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