The Baltimore Ravens released a lengthy statement on Monday addressing the recent Outside the Lines bombshell report that exposed the team for allegedly covering up the Ray Rice video to protect their former star running back. One of the biggest accusations from the ESPN report was that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti offered Rice a job with the team after cutting him. Many viewed that as a bribe.
The Ravens’ statement included what they claim are the exact text messages that were exchanged between Bisciotti and Rice regarding his future with the team. Bisciotti did offer Rice a job when he retires from football, and he said Monday that the offer stands.
“I cannot believe that Ray ever thought I was suggesting he keep quiet, when he got the texts or later on,” Bisciotti said. “They were not an insult. To the contrary, I think he knew these were messages from the heart, as were his responses to me. I wear my heart on my sleeve. Everyone knows that, including Ray.”
Here’s the conversation that took place, per the team’s statement:
Monday September 8, 7:44 pm
Ray: I understand the decision but I am thankful for what you have done for me and my family. Me and my wife will continue to work on us and being better but I just wanted to say thank you for giving me a chance
Steve: I’m sorry we had to do this. I still love you and believe that you will be a great husband and father If you ever need to talk just call
Tuesday September 9, 10:27 pm
Steve: I just spent two hours talking to Ozzie. It was all about you. We love you and we will always figure out a way to keep you in our lives. When you are done with football I will hire you to help me raise Great young men. I still love you!!!
Ray: I know it’s a rough time for all of us I love all of you and that will never change for life!
Steve: I will help you make it a great life indeed. I give you my WORD
Ray: That means the world to me and my family we greatly appreciate you and thank you.
Bisciotti also speculated that Outside the Lines’ sources were all people that were a part of or connected to Rice’s camp.
“The majority of people work for Ray,” he said. “It’s Ray’s attorney, it’s Ray’s agent, it’s Ray’s friends.”
While Bisciotti said he believes Rice’s camp is planting information to make him and the Ravens look bad, he was quick to point out that he doesn’t hold that against Rice.
“What his lawyer is forcing him to do to prepare for this thing, I won’t hold against him,” Bisciotti said.
The entire statement is worth reading, as it highlights certain segments of the Outside the Lines report and addresses them individually. When speaking to reporters, it seemed like Bisciotti was trying to shift most of the blame from the Ravens organization onto the NFL. Unlike Roger Goodell and company, Bisciotti admitted the Ravens had the leverage to get their hands on the elevator tape and didn’t pursue it thoroughly enough. He also said he expected Rice’s suspension to be longer than two games and that he had no idea the commissioner’s exempt list — the one Adrian Peterson has been placed on — existed.
This is easily most obnoxious game of “he said/she said” the NFL has ever played.
