Either Ray Rice knows something or he believes if he says something enough times, it'll come true.
Speaking to kids at a community event in Elizabeth, N.J., the banished running back again relayed his story of the hard work he put into becoming an NFL player,NJ.com reported. Despite Rice's success, he let the fame and money make him someone he didn't recognize, as evidenced by the two TMZ Sports videos of his domestic violence incident with his then-fiancée Janay inside an Atlantic City casino elevator in February of 2014 that led to his suspension from the NFL.
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Even though that suspension was overturned, Rice has not persuaded a team to give him a tryout the last two years. But when asked about his return at the community event, Rice did not hesitate.
"Does it look like I still work out?" He asked a boy who asked if he was coming back to the NFL.
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When the boy responded yes, Rice said, "Oh then, I'm coming back. I'm not giving up," to cheers from the audience.
The three-time Pro Bowler and four-time 1,000-yard rusher likely won't know until the summer if a team is willing to take a chance on him.
Because or Rice's transgressions, and Roger Goodell's subsequent light punishment --- he originally suspended the then-Baltimore Ravens running back only two games, until the TMZ video showing Rice punch Janay became public --- NFL teams have been more cognizant of dealing with players accused of domestic violence after Goodell instituted a policy of investigation and punishment for domestic violence offenders.
The Dallas Cowboys took a chance on defensive end Greg Hardy, who also was found guilty of domestic abuse against a former girlfriend, but Hardy became a constant distraction for his flippant remarks in response to questions about his transgression, as well as for his tardiness for team meetings.
And it seems that no matter how many public service appearances Rice makes to talk about his situation and to warn kids about not following in his footsteps, the NFL is not yet ready to forgive.
But if he doesn't make it, Rice may have found a replacement career, according to Bishop Fetson Leak, a longtime family friend and childhood mentor to Rice.
"I think that all things happen for a reason in our lives. It's my desire, or at least my hope that he will get another chance to play in the NFL," the bishop said after the event. "I know the clock is ticking, but football is not the end-all for him now. He gets along with children. He does a great job with the youth."
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