Domestic violence prevention group backs Ray Rice's search for 2nd chance
Ray Rice recently received the support of a domestic violence prevention group amid his continued search for a second chance.
Tony Porter and Ted Bunch, co-founders of "A Call to Men," believe the former Baltimore Ravens running back deserves another opportunity to play in the NFL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
"We have been around a lot of abusive men, but our experience with Ray has been tremendously positive," Porter explained over the weekend. "We feel strongly about him having the opportunity of having a second chance. He's deserving of it."
Porter went on to suggest that, although the group's public support may not be well-received, Rice making changes to his life and acting as an example for others may have a far more positive impact than keeping him away from the game ever could.
"We'll catch flak for this," he said. "A lot of people think we should kick him to the curb and his name should be mud forever. But how great would it be if everyone who made a mistake made it their mission to make sure a million people don't make the same mistake?
"To use the influence that he has, what a great way to correct that wrong. And that's what Ray has committed himself to doing. His intentions are real, his heart is pure, and we're going to help him to move forward so he can have a positive impact on the next generation of manhood."
One club seriously considered making an offer to Rice before ownership became uncomfortable due to the negative backlash that would almost certainly follow, ESPN's Ed Werder reported Friday.
While teams around the league may remain hesitant to sign the now 28-year-old running back, as the video of him punching his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City hotel elevator is still fresh in the minds of many, the public backing he's received from Porter and Bunch certainly can't hurt his chances.
Rice was one of the NFL's most productive running backs early on in his Ravens career, earning Pro Bowl nods in three of his first five seasons before struggling through a hip injury in 2013.
Now healthy, as Schefter's report indicates, Rice could conceivably help a team in need of a playmaker in the offensive backfield. Whether he's given that second chance after a full year away from the game, however, remains to be seen.