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Ray Rice Puts Family First, Buys Mother New House With First Purchase of $40 Million Contract

The Baltimore Ravens recently rewarded All-Pro running back Ray Rice with a brand new five-year, $40 million contract.

After signing the contract, Rice made it his first priority to take care of his loving mother.

"The first thing I did, just being honest, is I got my mom a house," Rice said.

Set to make $17 million this season and around $8 million annually, that's the least that he could do for his mother. Rice was slapped with the franchise tag just after the season, and negotiations for a long-term deal went down to the wire. Ultimately he received a brand new deal from the Ravens and the long-term security that an NFL running back dreams of.

"Playing under the franchise tag, me mentally, I wouldn't have known if I would be a Raven next year. That's where it scares you," Rice said. "It doesn't scare you in terms of financial stability because I'm going to get that. It scares you in terms of, where am I going to be next year? That feeling, I don't have to worry about."

Teams are becoming more and more reluctant to hand out fat contracts to running backs, and with Adrian Peterson signing a $100 million deal last summer and subsequently tearing his ACL, it only cements their beliefs. The shelf life for a running back is far less than at any other position.

Also running backs are being utilized less in the now pass-heavy NFL. Over the past two NFL drafts, the only running backs selected in the first round have been Trent Richardson and Marc Ingram — both coincidentally from Alabama.

But if anyone was to receive a long-term deal it should be Rice. He is always among the lead leaders in yards from scrimmage, and he's been the focal point of the Ravens offense almost since he came in the league. Plus he is a great ambassador for the game, at a time when they need them most.

Photo Via Facebook/Ray Rice

Photo of the Night

There was a new kind of pitch at Fenway Park on Wednesday.

Quote of the Night

"Who is this RG3 guy you guys keep talking about? You talking about Bob Griffin? You guys are giving him a cool nickname already and everything. When he does anything in the NFL we're gonna call him RG3. Right now he's Bob Griffin."
– Osi Umenyiora talking about the hype surrounding Robert Griffin III

Tweet of the Night

Seriously, he must have Dwightmare's about it… I'll opt out now.

I wonder how often Dwight Howard reflects on his decision to opt in.

— Michael Smith (@undecided) July 26, 2012

Video of the Night

Man, I need to start working out!