Video of Ray Rice's attack on his then-fiancee apparently was the last straw for the Baltimore Ravens, who announced Monday afternoon they've terminated the embattled running back's contract.
Rice, a three-time Pro Bowler and who helped Baltimore to a Super Bowl title in the 2012 season, was charged with third-degree aggravated assault following a Feb. 15 incident at a casino in Atlantic City, N.J., in which he alleged knocked out his then fiancé and now wife, Janay Palmer (now Janay Rice)
Initially, Rice and Palmer both were charged with simple assault. The Atlantic County prosecutor's office later dropped the charge against her. In March, Rice was indicted by a grant jury on the more serious charge of third-degree assault. The charge carried a potential sentence of three to five years in prison. After the indictment, Rice and Palmer married.
In May, Rice entered a program for first-time offenders that would clear his record of the criminal charge if he met certain conditions, including participation in counseling.
On July 24, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell imposed a two-game suspension on Rice at the start of the regular season. Rice missed the Ravens Sunday opening loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and will miss Thursday night's game in Baltimore against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Aug. 28, the NFL introduced new, standardized penalties for domestic violence: a six-game suspension for a first offense and an indefinite suspension of at least one year for a second offense. Goodell, who had been criticized on grounds that the suspension was too lenient, said at that time, "I didn't get it right. Simply put, we have to do better, and we will."
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