Ray Rice’s attorney called Saturday’s domestic violence incident between the Baltimore Ravens running back and his fiancée a «very minor physical altercation,» but surveillance footage from the Revel Casino in Atlantic City suggests it was a very major confrontation.
The footage obtained by TMZ Sports shows the former Rutgers star dragging knocked-out fiancée Janay Palmer out of an elevator shortly after Atlantic City police say they assaulted each other at the casino.
The video shows Rice, who doesn’t have a history of off-the-field issues, dragging an apparently unconscious Palmer out of the elevator and dropping her face-first onto the ground. A man who appears to be a security guard approached the couple as Palmer appeared to regain consciousness.
JOHN ROCA/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Janay Palmer and Ray Rice are arrested Saturday in Atlantic City and charged with domestic violence-simple assault following an altercation at Revel Casino.
RELATED: RICE AND FIANCEE ARRESTED IN ATLANTIC CITY FOR ‘PHYSICAL ALTERCATION’: REPORT
Rice’s attorney, Andrew Alperstein, described the incident earlier this week as a «very minor physical altercation,» but the TMZ Sports video indicates it was much more serious.
Atlantic City cops said earlier this week that surveillance video showed Rice and Palmer strike each other. The 27-year-old former Rutgers star and his fiancée were both charged with domestic violence-simple assault and released with a summons.
MATT SLOCUM/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ray Rice celebrates the Ravens’ win over the 49ers in Super Bow XLVII.
Rice and Palmer refused medical attention after the incident, the police added. Atlantic City police handed the case over to the prosecutor’s office for review on Wednesday.
Rice’s arrest is being reviewed by the league under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, which could lead to a suspension for the New Rochelle-raised running back.
LARRY FRENCH/GETTY IMAGES
In 2013, Ray Rice rushes for 981 yards and four touchdowns, his lowest offensive output since his rookie year.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the power to discipline players — whether they’ve been convicted or not — through suspensions, fines or ordering them to seek some sort of sensitivity training.
Rice, who signed a 5-year, $35 million deal with Baltimore in July 2012, is coming off a disappointing 2013 campaign, his sixth year in the league.
