One of the most uncomfortable moments in the Ray Rice saga was the infamous press conference Rice and his wife Janay Rice in May, where Janay was the one who apologized, not Rice. The former Baltimore Ravens running back now calls that a “horrendous mistake” and is taking responsibility for his actions.
After his indefinite suspension from the NFL was overturned on Nov. 28, NBC News’ Today Show got the first interview with Rice and Janay. Rice had been suspended after the full video of him hitting Janay in an elevator in February surfaced.
In the full interview with Matt Lauer, Rice talked extensively about that press conference, which angered anyone who watched it. Rice said he understood why people were angry, but said it was uncomfortable because his legal case - which ended in a plea deal with no jail time - hadn’t been wrapped up yet.
“So there wasn't much that could be said, but I'll be honest, we were nervous, I was nervous, and that was the first time we were available to speak. And I made a horrendous mistake not apologizing to my wife,” Rice said.
He also claimed that they were given a script that “wasn't truly coming from us.” He added, “She can do no wrong. I take full responsibility for my actions.”
Lauer asked Rice to explain his feelings on Janay apologizing. He suggested that Janay was trying to protect him.
“...I appreciated it, but that's not what the big deal is. The big deal is for me to always protect her, and that's why I said I take full responsibility,” Rice said. “She can do no wrong. This is something, you know, as a man you have to own and, we're horribly sorry, and I'm horribly sorry for everything that I have to put my family through.”
Later, Rice admitted that he is nervous about what his daughter will think of him when she Googles his name in the future.
Rice is now eligible to sign with any team that will have him.
“If I never play football again, I'll be honest with you, I would adapt into life and I would sacrifice more so [Janay] can have a better future,” Rice said.
image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com