After deciding to settle the grievance filed by running back Ray Rice over his Sept. 8 release, the Ravens are ready to put one of the ugliest sagas in franchise history behind them.
The wrongful termination hearing was set to begin on Thursday before the sides agreed to a settlement that spared each party further public scrutiny and embarrassment. Rice was seeking the $3.529 million he was scheduled to make in base salary upon returning from his original two-game suspension before his contract was terminated hours after TMZ released the in-elevator video of Rice striking his then-fiancee Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City casino.
It remains unclear how much money was included in the settlement.
“The Ravens agreed to resolve the grievance with Ray Rice. It’s time to turn the page, and we’re moving forward,” team president Dick Cass said in a released statement. “We will continue to focus on being the best partner we can be with our community, and that includes our work with the House of Ruth and One Love Foundation on the issue of intimate partner abuse.
“We wish Janay and Ray Rice the best.”
The Ravens recently donated $400,000 to the One Love Foundation, an organization created in memory of murdered University of Virginia women’s lacrosse player and Baltimore native Yeardley Love that raises awareness about domestic violence.
Rice’s indefinite suspension handed down by the NFL after the in-elevator video surfaced on Sept. 8 was overturned in November, but the 27-year-old has yet to be signed by a team.
Ravens president Cass on Rice settlement: "It’s time to turn the page"
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
Podcast Audio Vault
Right Now in Baltimore
LIVVing his best life, former Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton shares story of his patented athletic headphone
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton has stayed in touch with WNST ever since the day he was drafted 20 years ago and was a frequent guest on our Monday Night Live shows. Now an entrepreneur, the former first-round…
Owning the Ravens' rivalry lately, Steelers expect to play Grinch in Baltimore
The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the AFC North and have been quite sturdy against the Baltimore Ravens in recent years but remain a 7-point underdog on Saturday afternoon. Will Graves of The Associated Press in Pittsburgh gives Nestor a full preview…
Ravens bring Diontae Johnson saga to end, rule out Nelson Agholor for Pittsburgh game
The former Pro Bowl wide receiver made only one catch in four games and was suspended for the week