The Ray Rice appeal process is playing out and the former Ravens running back could be reinstated if he wins his appeal and if so, teams could sign him as a free agent and some options out there may include the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles or Detroit Lions, as some of those teams are dealing with tough RB situations and could use a boost.
Now granted, Rice is a pariah right now and may not get a contract this season even if he is reinstated, but as many in the media have pointed out in the past, teams can overlook things when they need help. The Rice situation is a bit different since the NFL has been under fire so much since the video was released of Rice striking his wife, but again, teams in need have shown in the past they will overlook certain issues when they need help.
In his Week 11 column for the NY Daily News, football reporter Gary Meyers writes that the Indianapolis Colts are one team that could look at Rice if he is reinstated by the league. Myers writes that one: Chuck Pagano is a former Ravens assistant who had years overlapped with Rice and two: that the Colts -who are a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender-desperately need help at running back. The team needed help even before Week 11, as Ahmad Bradshaw had been outshining Trent Richardson quite a bit, but now Bradshaw may have a broken ankle.
If the medical reports come back with serious results for Bradshaw and he needs surgery, it would be a major loss for a team that looks like it has a chance in the AFC. Pagano was in Baltimore in 2008 when the ravens drafted Rice and while he was on the defensive side of the ball, the connection could be a way for Rice to find his way back in the NFL. Richardson has not been productive for two years now and while he can be a solid back, the Colts will need more.
Now granted Rice will not be in football shape no matter what happens in his comeback, but adding him could be a good move for a team that needs another element in their offense apart from Andrew Luck passing the ball. The Colts have Dan Herron, but he has just 22 carries this season and that is not saying much. Richardson did not look good against the Pats and he is averaging less than 3.5 yards per carry and has just 391 yards this season.
Rice looked like he was declining in his last couple seasons with the Ravens, but this whole situation could give him a chance to start over. The other teams mentioned could be options as well, but it's likely that Rice doesn't play in the NFL this season. Myers writes that it's a distinct possibility that happens, but he also mentioned that a team in the thick of the playoff chase could make a move, even if it's unpopular.
