(baltimoreravens.com)
BALTIMORE – A hot-button topic boiled over Monday after a video from a casino was released showing an NFL running back knocking his fiancé out cold with a punch to the face.
Ray Rice, who has played for the Baltimore Ravens for 7 seasons, had his contract terminated by the team Monday.
Earlier, the NFL had announced that Rice would be suspended for two games after video surfaced of him dragging his fiancé – Janay Palmer – out of an elevator at an Atlantic City casino as she was unconscious. The weak suspension led to a firestorm of protest, and the NFL announced stiffer penalties with any domestic violence incidents moving forward.
Just as the NFL was praised for this move, on Monday, the website TMZ posted the shocking video of Rice jacking a woman in the face that he was engaged to – and married soon thereafter. Rice was later sentenced to anger management classes for the assault, but no jail time.
Rice apologized for the incident at a press conference, but would not reveal or discuss how the woman became unconscious. Monday’s video revealed the answer, as Rice struck the woman and she fell to the floor of the elevator. He later dragged her out, partially, and stood and stepped over her limp body.
