Harbaugh expects Rice to remain

ByJAMISON HENSLEY
February 21, 2014, 3:13 PM

— -- In his first public comments since Ray Rice's arrest, coach John Harbaugh said he expects the Pro Bowl running back to remain with the Baltimore Ravens.

Rice and his fiancée were both arrested for simple assault early Saturday at a casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Police have video evidence that shows Rice knocking her unconscious, according to a report by SI.com.

Asked Friday whether there is a scenario where he could see Rice not being part of the Ravens in 2014, Harbaugh told reporters at the NFL combine: "Not that I'm aware of. I haven't seen anything that would remotely make me think that."

A video obtained and posted online by TMZ on Wednesday shows Rice lifting the woman by her arms out of an elevator at the Revel Casino and laying her on the floor. She appears limp as he pulls her legs away from the elevator doors and later props her up.

Rice's attorney, Michael Diamondstein, has said the footage is authentic but incomplete.

"The facts will determine the consequences, always," Harbaugh said. "That's always the case, right? It's a process. We have to see how it goes."

Harbaugh said he spoke with Rice on Monday to get his explanation of the incident. Rice plans to participate in the team's voluntary workout program, according to Harbaugh.

"Ray and I are real close," Harbaugh said. "We have been for a long time, so it's an easy conversation to have. I love Janay. She's a great person.

"The two people obviously have a couple issues that they have to work through, and they're both committed to doing that. That was the main takeaway for me from the conversation. They understand their own issues. They're getting a lot of counseling and those kinds of things, so I think that's really positive. That was the main takeaway."

Rice had his Tuesday court appearance postponed while prosecutors review the charges. The new date has not been set.

He could face punishment from the league even if he's not convicted. The NFL could suspend and fine him under its personal conduct policy.

"There are a lot of facts and a process that has to be worked through in anything like this," Harbaugh said. "There are a lot of question marks. But Ray's character, you guys know his character. So you start with that."