While echoing John Harbaugh’s sentiment that the facts will determine consequences for Ray Rice, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome didn’t sugarcoat his reaction when asked if he’d seen the video of the running back dragging his fiancee from a casino elevator.
“It doesn’t look good,” Newsome said. “But I’m going to reserve all my comments up until I have a chance to talk to Ray.”
While Rice has spoken to Harbaugh, director of player development Harry Swayne, and head of security Darren Sanders, Newsome told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis that he has yet to speak to the seventh-year running back.
Rice and fiancée Janay Palmer were both arrested and charged with simple assault-domestic violence after a physical altercation in Atlantic City last weekend. However, Newsome said he feels “very good” about Rice’s side of the story told to members of the organization and on the measures the 27-year-old has taken in the aftermath of the incident to address his relationship with Palmer.
“In any of those situations, it’s very concerning, but up until we get all of the facts, we will allow the process run its course,” Newsome said. “I think John said it best yesterday: ‘We will let the facts determine what the consequences will be.’”
Newsome gave no indication that Rice’s future with the Ravens is in jeopardy, but he acknowledged that the entire video must be reviewed by the league and that the organization will follow commissioner Roger Goodell’s lead in that regard. It has been reported that Atlantic City police possess surveillance video of the pair striking each other with Rice rendering Palmer unconscious.
Many have opined that because of the public nature in which this story has played out with TMZ releasing a portion of the video on Wednesday, Rice is likely to face a suspension.
“As a league, we have a conduct policy,” Newsome said said. “Being a member of the league, we will follow that from A to Z. Up until we get to that point, right now, he falls under the personal conduct policy with the league. And we will allow the league to take its position before we will have to take any.”
To hear the entire Ozzie Newsome press conference at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, click HERE.
