Ravens RB Ray Rice speaks on Casino Assault

Three months ago, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was caught by a Revel Atlantic City camera hitting his fiancee, Janay Palmer. And this weekend, the now-married couple made their first public comments since Rice’s arrest for assault.

“I failed miserably, but I wouldn’t call myself a failure because I’m working my way back up,” an emotional Rice said. “I know many of my ers, sponsors, don’t want to be in partnership with me. That’s my fault. I take full responsibility for that. One thing I do know is that I’m working every day to be a better father, a better husband and just a better role model.

“I want you to know I’m still the Ray Rice that you know, or used to know, or grown to love. I’m still the same guy. As me and Janay wish we could take back 30 seconds of our life, we definitely sit here and tell you that we are better parents, we are better lovers and also better friends.”

Rice continued talking for over six minutes at the Ravens’ training facility about his big mistake. But while Rice spoke plenty about what a foolish decision he made, the press felt as though the one thing he was missing was an apology to his wife.

The New York Daily News was quick to jump on how poor of a job Rice did with this press conference. They specifically questioned why Janay Rice was apologizing during the conference too, even though she was the assault victim here. “I do deeply regret the role I played in the incident that night,” she said. “But I can say that I am happy that we continue to work through it together.”

If Ray Rice was hoping for a moving speech that would win back after he was taped assaulting his wife, it certainly doesn’t seem like he accomplished this goal. Furthermore, he’s done nothing to dissuade NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell from eventually handing down a suspension.

Assuming the suspension does come as planned, this would be a big blow to the Ravens since they’ve depended upon Rice for the past six seasons. He’s the team’s career leader in scrimmage yards with 9,214 and second in franchise history with 6,180 rushing yards. Last year was the worst for Rice as he rushed for 660 yards and gained 321 through the air. However, he was still an integral part of Baltimore’s backfield.