Ray Rice - A "Prop Up" Kind Of Guy

Dan Soden

What happens in Vegas seems to normally stay in Vegas, but what happens in Atlantic City gets recorded and dispersed onto the internet.

By now many of us have heard about or even seen a video that depicts Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice lifting a woman by her arms out of an elevator and then laying her limp body on the floor. He then makes sure that her legs are out of harm’s way, what a nice guy, before he later tries to prop her up.

Well it is now being reported that police have yet another video via an elevator surveillance camera that shows Rice knocking out his fiancée Janay Palmer moments before the now infamous casino floor footage comes into play.

This is Rice’s first-time as a violator of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, but many are expecting him to see a suspension, which is very rare for a first offense. What makes this case different than the others is that it’s on camera and it’s expected that everyone will be able to view it like they currently can with the first clip.

Now the bigger question, football wise, is will the Ravens continue to employ Rice in the event that this video gets published and he is found guilty.  Friday at the scouting combine Raven’s head coach John Harbaugh weighed in on the matter.

Harbaugh was asked if there were any scenarios were Rice wouldn’t be on the roster come next season, what Harbaugh says might shock some: “Not that I'm aware of. I haven't seen anything that would remotely make me think that.”

Seems pretty cut and dry Rice will remain on the team, because this is the NFL and all we truly care about is what happens on that field, Harbaugh would later dance around the question a little more PR friendly but truth of the matter is Rice will more likely than not be a Raven, and here is the main reason why.

The Raven have paid Rice a total of $25 million since July of 2012 and by cutting him they would take on a cap hit of $14.25 million that is still owed to Rice. Now that number could either go against the cap entirely in 2014, if he is release before July 1 or it would break down with $4.75 million against the cap in 14’ and $9.5 million against the cap in 2015 if he is released as a post-June 1 transaction.

Those are numbers that Raven’s general manger Ozzie Newsome is more likely not comfortable carrying around while trying to find another running back to produce for the team like Rice has been able to. And that folks is the ugly truth about the NFL.

(quotes courtesy of Baltimore Sun)

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