Former NFL player Ray Rice, who was suspended from the league last season after a video of him punching and dragging his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City hotel elevator surfaced and went viral, wrote an open apology letter to Ravens fans and the city of Baltimore on Friday morning.
“The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives,” wrote Rice. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown my family and I throughout my football career. We’ll always be grateful for the love we’ve received from all of our fans and supporters, and for winning a Super Bowl.”
PHOTOS: 25 Scandals and SMH Moments Of 2014
He went on to directly address his youngest fans:
“To all the kids who looked up to me, I’m truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it’s helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare. There is no excuse for domestic violence, and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, and I hope to make a positive difference in people’s lives by raising awareness of this issue.”
Rice is planning to relocate to New York City and still hopes to re-enter the league.