Ray Rice Expected To Be Back In NFL Next Year, NFC Teams Reportedly Interested

Mike Freeman of the Bleacher Report writes that while he previous thought there was no chance that former Ravens RB Ray Rice would ever play in the NFL again, he now believes there is a “50 percent” chance of him being on a roster next year.

• An NFL general manager told Freeman: “He will 100 percent be on a team next season.”
• According to Freeman, “word is, teams thinking hard about Rice are in the NFC.”

Freeman writes teams are less afraid of the public backlash that would come from signing Rice given that “fans have short attention spans” and the “raw practicality” of bringing in a talented player.

The Bills just signed Richie Incognito to a contract and even included a $100,000 signing bonus, which is as good of an indication as any that it’s possible for Rice to get another shot in the NFL.

Rice managed to win his appeal against the NFL back in November and was reinstated to the league. On top of that, Rice wound up settling his grievance with the Ravens close to a month ago.

Rice, 28, wound up sitting out the entire 2014 season after commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him indefinitely for his role in the domestic violence incident in which he knocked out his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator.

He originally received just a two-game suspension for the incident, but after video surfaced of Rice actually punching out his fiancee, the league abruptly responded by suspending him indefinitely.

In 2013, Rice ran for 660 yards on 214 carries (3.1 YPC) to go along with 58 receptions for 321 yards receiving and four total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus wound up rating him as the worst qualifying running back in the league that season. Although, he was dealing with a hip injury.

We’ll have more regarding Rice returning to the NFL and who could be interested in signing him.