Things have been a relatively quiet for the past week regarding Ray Rice and the pending case against him, but on Wednesday Ravens head coach John Harbaugh shined some light on the incident, from the standpoint of the organization.
The head coach told members of the media he has recently spoken to Rice.
“I’ve talked to Ray a lot, and really nothing to add other than what’s been said already – the facts will determine the consequences, and we’ll see where it goes,” Harbaugh stated.
“There’s nothing [Rice] has said that hasn’t turned out to be the case,” Harbaugh went on. “I know Ray is going to spend a week at a seminar type of thing as a couples type deal. He’s doing everything he can to do what he needs to do and make things right.”
Rice and his fiancee Janay Palmer were both arrested and charged with simple assault-domestic violence in Atlantic City in February. The couple remains engaged to be married, according to Harbaugh.
While it remains to be seen how the legal process plays out for Rice, Harbaugh maintains what he said on the teams’ website in late February regarding Rice’s future with the Ravens.
“Not that I’m aware of,” he responded when asked if Rice’s standing with the team may be in jeopardy. “I haven’t seen anything that would remotely make me think that.”
The running back plans to participate in the team’s voluntary workout program and has been working out with several teammates in the area, addressing his vow to return in better shape for the 2014 season.
For now it appears as if it’s business as usual – until the Ravens hear otherwise.
In the meantime the team has locked up tight end Dennis Pitta and is attempting to secure some of their other free agents – aggressively, according to Harbaugh.
“We’ve got aggressive offers out to all those guys,” he said. “They’re working very hard at it.”
While the Ravens are set to tackle free agency and the upcoming NFL draft it remains to be seen if they have a alternate plan just in case Rice does miss a few games. While they won’t publicly comment on it, no doubt they have a plan. After all, this isn’t the first time Ozzie has had to deal with a player having off-the-field issues.
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