After learning earlier this week that he will not be prosecuted for a domestic violence incident that took place in New Jersey earlier this offseason, Ravens running back Ray Rice is ready to break his silence.
The 27-year-old is scheduled to address the media at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon and will be accompanied by his wife, Janay, according to a team release. Rice was accepted into a pretrial intervention program earlier this week, which means he will avoid going to trial and will not face any prison time for third-degree aggravated assault.
The Ravens are scheduled to begin their first session of organized team activity workouts next week and would like to avoid media attention focusing solely on Rice’s case, making Friday’s press conference logical from a timing standpoint. However, Rice and the organization still await word from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on any potential fine or suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Rice has yet to speak publicly about the incident that occurred at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City on February 15. He and his then-fiancée were both initially charged with simple assault-domestic violence before the grand jury indicted Rice on a more serious charge and dismissed the charge against Janay Palmer in late March. The original police report said Rice and Palmer struck one another with their hands and the former rendered his fiancée unconscious.
The couple were married a day after the indictment.
