Ray Rice is slowly trying to kick start his NFL comeback after a steep fall from grace at the beginning of the season. He achieved the first step by winning his appeal and getting reinstated into the league. However, now the task becomes trying to win over a team and get signed for a late-season, playoff run. At this point, the only teams that would even glance towards Rice would be a contending team with a need for a run game upgrade, but even that is a long shot. As of now more teams are coming forward denying interest than showing it.
In an interview with NBC's "Today" show, Rice expressed his desire for a second chance in the NFL, hoping teams past the media coverage on who he is as a person. The former Baltimore Ravens running back stressed that he is not the person the media has made him out to be after a video was released showing Rice hitting his then fiancée Janay.
"They would have to be willing to look deeper into who I am and realize that me and my wife had one bad night, and I took full responsibility for it," Rice said, via ESPN.com. "And one thing about my punishment and everything going along with anything that happened is that I've accepted it. I went fully forward with it. I never complained, or I never did anything like that. I took full responsibility for everything that I did, and the only thing I can hope for and wish for is a second chance."
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, four teams including the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts have shown interest in potentially signing Rice off the free agent market for the remainder of the year. Saints head coach Sean Payton addressed the media on Sunday and denied the idea that New Orleans needed help in the run game. Payton stressed his full confidence in Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson.
Now, the Detroit Lions are making it clear they are not interested in the help. The Lions have been dealing with injuries to Reggie Bush as Joique Bell and Theo Riddick handle the work load. The Lions are playoff contenders if they can get their offense back on track and some believe Rice could help. However, head coach Jim Caldwell does not share that belief.
"We haven't considered that at this point," Caldwell said, via the Detroit News. "I am not sure what will happen to him in this league. Certainly I believe in second chances. At some point I think he will get one. But when it's going to happen, I don't know."
The chances are high that Rice sits out until the 2015 season. Once free agency begins, several teams could be eyeing the running back. However, right now it appears very slim that the running back rejoins the league in the coming weeks.
