The running back-depleted 49ers and Steelers "shored up" their rosters Monday. And neither with proven veteran Ray Rice.
San Francisco lost Reggie Bush and Pittsburgh lost Le'Veon Bell for the year and with torn MCLs. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Rice (his birthday is Jan. 22), a three-time Pro Bowler with 6,180 yards, including four 1,000-yard seasons and 43 touchdowns, did not merit a look from either team.
Acceptance Of Greg Hardy, Banishment Of Tim Tebow, Ray Rice Not Good Look For NFL
Instead, the 49ers went with soon-to-be 28-year-old Shaun Draughn (Dec. 7), who has 264 career rushing yards, a 3.5 yard-per-carry average and two touchdowns in five seasons, Pro Football Talk reports. Draughn spent 2014 with three different teams.
The Steelers went with soon-to-be 26-year-old Isaiah Pead (Dec. 14), who has spent his entire three-plus-year career with the Rams, amassing 78 yards and a career 2.9 yard-per-carry average, according to Steelers Depot.
One Team Has Serious Interest In Ray Rice, Peter King Says
The on-field knock on Rice is that he averaged only 3.1 yards per carry his last season with the Ravens in 2013. Rice tried to bulk up that season to help him withstand the pounding, and he was dealing with a hip injury for much of the year.
Obviously, Rice is the poster child for domestic violence, thanks to the two videos of his elevator encounter with then-fiancée and now-wife Janay. But Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy, who unlike Rice was convicted of a domestic violence-related charge, is in the league.
The Bears signed defensive tackle Ray McDonald in March after the 49ers released McDonald in December of 2014. San Francisco cited a pattern of off-the-field behavior for cutting McDonald, who had domestic charges against him dropped a month earlier, in part because the victim refused to cooperate with the investigation.
That also was a factor in charges being dropped against Hardy before the Cowboys signed him.
McDonald was charged in July with domestic violence and felony false imprisonment over allegations that he assaulted his ex-fiancée as she had their two-month old child in her arms. The Bears released McDonald after the second incident, according to ESPN.
Rice has apologized for his actions. He has become an advocate for victims of domestic violence. He continues to be active in the community, buying cheerleader outfits for supporters of a youth football team in Baltimore.
How much backlash would there be, really, if Rice just got a tryout with a team? And imagine what an impact Rice could make now to raise awareness of domestic violence with an NFL return.
It's too bad NFL teams are too scared to deal with a few days of having to answer extra questions about adding a Pro Bowl-caliber running back.
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