With his suspension overturned and a Today Show interview under his belt, Ray Rice is now moving back into the public eye in Baltimore.
According to CBS Baltimore, the former Ravens running back donned an ugly Christmas sweater for a Toys for Tots event this week with his former teammate Torrey Smith. It was Rice’s third year participating in the event at Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, but this year took on added meaning in the wake of the firestorm that surrounded the infamous video of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator.
Rice acknowledged the incident at the event, telling CBS Baltimore he “made a horrible mistake in my life.”
But he said he believes fans would forgive him.
“I think all the fans have looked deep into who I am,” he said.
Most NFL media types think Rice will play again, but have mostly ruled out a return to the Ravens. Nevertheless, the goodwill gesture and national coverage that followed will likely only help to re-introduce him to the public eye.
And despite all of the controversy, Ray and Janay Rice still appear comfortable in Baltimore. They were out shopping at Towson Town Center this week, and the Carroll County Times reports that friends threw them a surprise party earlier this week at their Owings Mills home.
