Suspended from the NFL and cut from the Baltimore Ravens after video surfaced of Ray Rice beating his now-wife, Rice's credibility as an anti-bullying advocate in doubt.
In April last year, Rice took part in an anti-bullying fundraising effort at a Maryland school.
Under the headline "Fans meet Ray Rice, help anti-bullying efforts," Rice even took the microphone of a local TV station and interviewed the kids at the event.
Governor O'Malley's office released a statement following Rice being released from his Ravens' contract:
"The video released this morning of this domestic assault was horrible, shocking, and reprehensible. Everyone can do more to help end the scourge of domestic violence. Please consider supporting the House of Ruth, and learn about what Maryland is doing to reduce violence against women and children: <a href="https://data.maryland.gov/goals/violence" target="_blank">https://data.maryland.gov/goals/violence</a>.
As of this writing, the Baltimore Ravens website touts Rice's anti-cyberbullying efforts:
Ravens running back Ray Rice was in Annapolis yesterday to support Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's signing of a cyberbullying bill known as "Grace's Law."
The bill is named after 15-year-old Grace McComas, who committed suicide after being bullied online. The issue is dear to Rice's heart.
"It was important to me to come here for Grace's Law," Rice told your4state.com. "After I heard the family's tragic story, I was thinking how could we attack bullying, whether it's cyberbullying or anti-bullying."
The Baltimore Ravens website elaborates on why Ray Rice embraced the anti-bullying message:
Rice is stepping to the forefront of anti-bullying advocacy, including through his foundation and even politically in the state of Maryland.
"Anti-bullying is such a big deal," Rice told BaltimoreRavens.com this week. "I started doing some research, and I was like, 'This is crazy.' It's happening as we speak. I knew something had to be done."
But why did Rice take on bullying? NFL players are pulled in so many directions, and with as much star power as Rice carries, his words carry a lot of weight in the Baltimore area and even around the country.
Rice's reasons converged about a year ago.
It began when Deb Poquette, owner of Prestige Lifestyle Management who works with Rice and his foundation, told the running back about how her daughter was being bullied at school.
Then Rice went home to New Rochelle, N.J., during the offseason and his sister, who was in middle school at the time, had stiches under one eye. A rock was thrown at her. It took every ounce of Rice's energy not to hunt down the bully, though he did meet with the principal.
No word on when or if the Baltimore Ravens will scrub Rice from their website.
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