The court of public opinion hasn’t been kind to Ray Rice these days.
The Baltimore Ravens running back rightfully drew the ire of the American public in February when a video emerged of him dragging his unconscious fiancee out of a hotel elevator after he allegedly knocked her out.
Rice again found himself in the spotlight this summer when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell slapped him with a controversial two-game suspension that many believed was much too lenient.
The 27-year-old now finds himself with the task of reshaping his public image. If anyone can understand where Rice is coming from, it’s Michael Vick, who was suspended indefinitely and served 19 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting operation.
While the transgressions of Rice and Vick obviously aren’t comparable, the New York Jets quarterback felt the need to offer some advice based on his own experiences.
“I think the most important thing that you can do is to try to make amends for what you’ve done,” Vick told NJ.com. “I think you have to show people that you’re trying to help yourself and bring awareness to that situation to help others, to prevent it. You’ve got to become an advocate.”
Vick said that since his stint in prison, he has tried to make amends by becoming an advocate for animal welfare. If Rice can advocate against domestic violence and set an example for others, Vick believes that will go a long way.
“It’s all about keeping kids 15 years from now from doing the same,” Vick added. “We’ve saved a lot of kids, and we’ve saved a lot of animals. That’s how I feel. Ray will make it right. He’ll do everything he can to make this situation whole again.”
Photo via Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports Images
