Ray Rice hasn’t been out and about since being suspended indefinitely from the NFL following the release of video of the former Baltimore Ravens running back punching his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City, N.J., elevator.
But he and his wife made their first public appearance Saturday in New Rochelle, N.Y., to watch Rice’s former high school football team play.
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Rice’s relationship with New Rochelle High School has been rather complicated since the incident, as the running back has been extremely charitable to the school. They elected to remove his Ravens jersey from the school gymnasium’s wall after the footage was released, but his high school number remains retired.
However, New Rochelle head coach Lou DiRenzo voiced his support of Rice during halftime.
“The New Rochelle football program is a very strong program, and once you’re a member of that program, you’re a member of that program for life,” DiRenzo said via LoHud.com. “Ray is a part of our family and a part of this program, and that’s why I’m very happy that he’s here today.
“He made a mistake — and he made a very terrible mistake — but I know the character of the man, and he will rise from this. The mistake that he made will be erased by the good deeds that he will continue to do.”
H/t to For The Win
