Ray Rice isn't any closer to making an NFL comeback on the field, but his future as an NFL coach took a massive first step -- one toward a potential destination like Jacksonville.
The former NFL RB -- as part of Mike Martz's staff -- was a coach for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday. His team, National, barely defeated American, 18-17. For Rice, however, the experience was a natural one.
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"It's been a great experience from the coaching side of it," he told The L.A. Times during a brief pregame interview. "It felt great to pick up some Xs and Os, but when I got with the kids it really felt at home for me.
"Natural."
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Naturally, Rice is still determined to return to the field.
"I always said I wanted to finish something the way I started on the field, so a lot of those situations are out of my control, but I'm not giving up," Rice added. "I'm going to keep helping kids and helping out the next generation of football players to understand the severity of my actions, but at the same time I'm going to keep my body, and keep myself focused and be hopeful for a second chance."
Rice can be hopeful all he wants, but it won't improve the 3.1 yards he averaged in his final season with the Ravens. He boasted his NFL prospects from the sideline more than anything else on Saturday. RBs are a dime a dozen in the NFL, but former RBs who can serve as a teaching moment for young players aren't.
It's that value -- coupled with his NFL knowledge -- that makes Rice a coaching commodity.
Teams with young backfields who struggled to run the ball in 2015 -- much like the Jaguars, who finished 27th in the league -- would benefit from giving him a look in 2016.
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"I'm still hopeful. I'm not ready to give it up" - Ray Rice on getting a second chance in the NFL at the @NFLPABowl. https://t.co/uMIOk19w7J
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 20, 2016
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