Are Teams Really Interested In Ray Rice?

This still somewhat boggles my mind that he might actually come back and play in the NFL. If you haven't heard the news already, Ray Rice, the former Ravens running back who won his appeal over his indefinite suspension, does have a chance to come back to play this season, though it is highly unlikely.

But before we get into where he might play, let's catch everybody up on what has happened. the ruling came down a few days ago in district court that Rice's indefinite suspension from the league was not valid.

"In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time. Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated," Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones' decision stated. "Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice's description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely." (ESPN).

So what the judge was ruling was that the NFL got everything wrong, from how they handled the situation to the actual suspension. The NFL was of course going to be unhappy with this decision, but they got it wrong from the beginning. The NFL gave out a weak suspension first, and this was when they already knew everything. What the league should have done is handle this situation the same way they did Adrian Peterson. I know the NFLPA isn't happy with that ruling either. But the NFLPA doesn't have a leg to stand on in that case. But enough about how the league screwed up. Back to the topic at hand

Ray Rice can now come back and play in the league with whoever wants to sign him to a contract. He now has a chance to make a name for himself in this league again. Rice, who is 27 and will turn 28 in January, is a three-time Pro Bowler and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII. He rushed for 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns in six seasons with Baltimore. He still has a little talent left in the legs, so there is a chance he can still be very productive.

Now there are four teams rumored to be interested in Rice, the Colts and Saints being two of them, but both those clubs aren't expected to go after him. New Orleans already has Mark Ingram and the Colts have Trent Rinchardson, but neither team has really been effective in the run game. Even if he does come back, there are a few obstacles facing Rice.

One is being how fast he can pick up a team's offensive schemes. The other, and just as important, is how well will he be accepted around the league. There's still no escaping the fact that he did what he did. At the same time, many thought it would take Michael Vick a while to get adjusted back after dog fighting, and things have worked out for him. I know its different between dog fighting and domestic abuse, but the struggle to get back in the league, and be accepted, once again, could be exactly the same.

Will Ray Rice come back in the league? Only time will tell.