Ray Rice wants second chance in NFL

ByABC News
December 2, 2014, 9:44 AM

— -- Ray Rice wants a second chance in the NFL and hopes that any team interested in signing him will "look deeper into who I am."

Rice, who was reinstated to the NFL last Friday after winning his appeal of an indefinite suspension, spoke about his future in football during an interview that aired Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show.

Rice is now eligible to sign with any NFL team. When asked what it would take for a team to sign him, the former Ravens running back said potential suitors would have to understand that he and his wife Janay "had one bad night."

"They would have to be willing to look deeper into who I am and realize that me and my wife had one bad night, and I took full responsibility for it," Rice said. "And one thing about my punishment and everything going along with anything that happened is that I've accepted it. I went fully forward with it. I never complained, or I never did anything like that. I took full responsibility for everything that I did, and the only thing I can hope for and wish for is a second chance."

Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after a video of him hitting Janay, his then-fiancée, was released publicly.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell originally had suspended Rice for two games. The incident occurred in February inside an elevator at an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino.

Accompanied by Janay and her parents during the interview, Rice also said he would be willing to "sacrifice" for his wife in the event that he never plays in the NFL again.

"If I never play football again, I'll be honest with you, I would adapt into life and I would sacrifice more so she can have a better future," he said.

At least four teams have expressed interest in Rice, multiple league sources recently told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Two of those teams are the Colts and Saints, although neither team is expected to pursue him, sources told Schefter.

The NFC West-leading Cardinals also are not considering signing Rice, a league source told ESPN's Ed Werder. Despite the hip injury suffered this past Sunday by starting running back Andre Ellington, the Cardinals have "no interest" in Rice, according to the source.

A source close to Rice told Werder that the priority is to have the three-time Pro Bowler signed with a team by this weekend.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Ed Werder contributed to this report.