Debunking the Ray Rice, Detroit Lions Rumors

Detroit Lions rumors have lingered around the team for much of 2014, and understandably so. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh entered the season in the final year of his rookie contract, and it’s currently believed that Suh will test the free-agent market in 2015.

Both sides agreed to table contract talks until seasons end, and Suh and the rest of the Detroit Lions defense have focused their efforts on the task at hand, winning games this year.

So far, it’s working too.

The thing is, the latest buzzing in the Detroit Lions rumor mill doesn’t involve Suh and 2015, (for once) instead it involves one Ray Rice.

Anyone who follows the NFL, and frankly anyone who doesn’t, is well aware of Rice‘s domestic violence case, his indefinite suspension, and his ongoing attempt to have his suspension revoked.

Whether or not Rice will play a game this season is currently unclear, but if he does re-enter the league a few said teams are rumored to be prime landing spots for the troubled running back.

Among them, Detroit.

CBS Baltimore put together a list of five teams where they believe Rice would be a good fit. They mentioned the Lions as one of the teams, saying the Lions need help to combat their second half fade.

"“They currently sit in 1st in the NFC North, but could have real interest in Rice to help stave off the 2nd half fade they have been famous for in recent years.”"

Could Rice actually land in the Motor City?

The answer is no.

Ray Rice will undoubtedly return to the NFL eventually, but there is little to no chance that it’s in Detroit. Rice does possess ties to current Lions head coach Jim Caldwell and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin from their time on the Baltimore coaching staff, however coach Caldwell has made his opinion on domestic assault, well-known.

"“Our policy has always been the same and always will be the same in that regard,” Caldwell said. “We do have a zero-tolerance policy. One of the things that we want to make certain of is that we do things the right way.“That’s key to us –how we act on and off the field, how we represent this organization, how we represent the Ford family, how we represent the NFL.“We don’t believe there’s any place for domestic violence.”"

Caldwell also separated the characteristics of Rice as a football player and Rice off the field.

"“I knew Ray from a football standpoint,” Caldwell said. “He’s a quality guy. Worked extremely hard. But this transcends football. This is beyond football. This is in a personal realm, which is a realm that certainly I didn’t know."

If that’s not convincing enough, factor in the Lions previous issues with behavioral problems off the filed and it’s fairly safe to assume that Ray Rice will never don the Honolulu-blue and silver.

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