Ray Rice thanks Baltimore

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice issued a statement to the Baltimore Sun this morning, in which he thanked the city of Baltimore and the Ravens and apologized for the assault of his then-fiancee a year ago that got him kicked off the team and renewed the national conversation on relationship violence.

The occasion is Riceโ€™s move from Maryland to New York. In his โ€œnot a farewellโ€ statement, he had a message for young fans:

โ€œTo all the kids who looked up to me, Iโ€™m truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope itโ€™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 peopleโ€™s lives by raising awareness of this issue.โ€

Read the full statement at the Baltimore Sun.