Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice issued an apology to fans almost one year after his arrest for assaulting his then-fiancée and now-wife, Janay Palmer.

Months after his deplorable actions in a casino elevator were uncovered and broadcast all over, Rice has finally issued an apology to Ravens fans in a letter issued to the Baltimore Sun.

Dear Baltimore,

This is not a farewell or goodbye. The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown my family and I throughout my football career. We’ll always be grateful for the love we’ve received from all of our fans and supporters, and for winning a Super Bowl. To all the kids who looked up to me, I’m truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it’s helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare. There is no excuse for domestic violence, and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives by raising awareness of this issue. Thank you, Baltimore Ravens, for all you have done for my family and I. I’m very grateful to Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, John Harbaugh, and everyone at 1 Winning Drive. I love you all very much, and I’ll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens.

Thank you.

-- Ray Rice

Rice was of course arrested last February for domestic violence. It wasn’t until September though that video surveillance, released by TMZ Sports, showed exactly what happened in that Atlantic City elevator with Rice and Palmer. In the footage, he can actually be seen punching Palmer and knocking her out cold.

I don’t mean to be too cynical, but why the apology now? Is it only because Rice wants to get back into the game and needs a team to believe that he is a changed man who has taken responsibility for his actions?

Either way, America is the land of second chances, especially in sports. So while some may disagree with a comeback and many NFL owners may shy away from Rice, don’t be surprised if a team desperate for a running back decides to sign him. However, if that happens, that particular franchise may always have a black cloud looming, in the form of the video that has been seen by just about every sports fan in the country.

image courtesy of Kristin Callahan/ACE/INFphoto.com