Strong reactions to Rice video, player’s release
Even NFL players who rarely criticize each other publicly made their feelings clear Monday on Ray Rice through social media and in interviews.
Reaction was swift and powerful to the release of a video showing the Baltimore running back striking his then-fiancee, and the Ravens subsequently releasing him.
Here’s a sampling:
• “This video makes me sick to my stomach. No place for this. As players we always speak on how we are unfairly treated, well now what?”
– Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton.
• “I don’t know Ray Rice, but I know that video is disturbing. It’s tough to see and it’s unacceptable. … It’s upsetting.”
– Saints tackle Zach Strief.
• “We’re talking about a life, I don’t care about a sport when it comes down to domestic violence. This is real. Someone can lose their life to it.
“So I’m not concerned about the sport. I’m concerned about what happens in the world, what happens in real life. “
– Steelers cornerback William Gay, whose mother, Carolyn, was shot and killed by Gay’s stepfather in Tallahassee, Florida, when Gay was 7 years old.
• “Am I happy the NFL has taken a harder stance? … I mean, there is no excuse for abuse. I really believe that.”
– Bills coach Doug Marrone, who supports Vera House, which assists victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
• “If my daughter was to get hit like that from another man, I’d have a serious problem with it. So I wish him the best, but it’s no place for that. I don’t care if you’re a football player, a professional athlete or anything, a regular man or anything, there’s no place for that – striking a woman.”
– Titans tackle Michael Oher, former teammate of Rice’s in Baltimore whose locker was next to the running back.
• “Ray will always be a part of our family. The video I saw this morning was difficult to watch. As a husband and as a father, there’s nothing that could justify what I saw on that video.
“This is a sad day for Ray and a sad day for Rutgers.”
– Coach Kyle Flood of Rutgers, where Rice attended.