Anti-Domestic Violence Group: Ray Rice Deserves a Second Chance in the NFL

An anti-domestic violence group wants Ray Rice to get a second chance in the NFL. Seriously.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Evan Habeeb

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice is out of the NFL at the moment, and missed all of last season due to his involvement in a nasty domestic violence incident.

Rice was originally issued only a two-game suspension for striking a woman in an Atlantic City, N.J. hotel elevator; she was his fiancée at the time, though the two later married. But once the video emerged in early September, the suspension became indefinite, and he was banned from the league until he was reinstated in late November of last year.

Somewhat surprisingly, the co-founders of A Call To Men, a national organization that encourages men to end violence against women, are hoping to change that.

"We have been around a lot of abusive men, but our experience with Ray has been tremendously positive," Tony Porter said this past weekend, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. "We feel strongly about him having the opportunity of having a second chance. He's deserving of it."

"He's held himself accountable," Ted Bunch said, again via Schefter. "He is saying everything that you would want him to say and doing everything that you would want him to do. So why wouldn't he deserve another chance? His work in the area of educating young men is more important than him getting back on the field. He knows that and has said that to us. He is seeing the bigger picture. He has a desire to compete again, but also to make a difference in the world. This is what mistakes should be about: learning from them and teaching others. We've been in front of a lot of batterers. He is as transparent as I've seen, and as sincere as I've seen."

No team has dared to formally consider adding Rice to its roster. But if more positive endorsements end up emerging, it's likely that someone will indeed give him that second chance he desires.

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(via Sportress of Blogitude)​

 

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