OWINGS MILLS, Md. (WUSA9) -- Today was the first full team practice for the Ravens. It was overshadowed by the news the NFL suspended running back Ray Rice for two games.
The suspension is in connection with his off season altercation with his then-fiancee now wife at an Atlantic City hotel. Authorities arrested him for knocking out Janay Palmer and dragging her out of an elevator back in February.
Teammates of the 3-time pro bowler support him and understand punishment was due. Head Coach John Harbaugh gets it, too. As dozens of children from the Police Athletic league were waiting to get autographs from their favorite players, Coach Harbaugh was talking to the media about Rice's suspension, which wasn't official around 11:40 a.m. when he spoke.
Looking at the kids and listening to him, I was struck by this part of his comments, "… he makes a mistake, all right he's gonna have to pay a consequence. It's good for kids to understand it works that way…"
Harbaugh and many others know football players are role models, rightly or wrongly. When one does something illegal, immoral or ill-advised, young people will notice what happens in the aftermath, the consequences Coach Harbaugh speaks of.
On a happier note, a funny moment at camp today happened towards the end while players were finishing up, possibly stretching I can't remember exactly. A loud speaker came on and blasted the message that an emergency situation was happening inside the building and everyone had to evacuate.
Those of us in the media sort of looked around wondering what that was about. None of the players or coaches seemed concerned and since we were outside, there was no evacuating that had to be done.
The Ravens PR staff later told me a member of the media accidentally pushed the button. Coach Harbaugh joked about it during Torrey Smith's press conference with reporters saying, "Peter King did it, " blaming the long-time Sports Illustrated columnist.
