Embattled Ray Rice gives statement to ESPN’s Josina Anderson

Ray Rice likely won’t be showing his face in public any time soon but on Tuesday he did emerge from exile enough to give a statement to ESPN’s Josina Anderson about how he and wife Janay are holding up in the face of their current difficulties.

More from Baltimore Ravens

• Ravens need to give Odell Beckham Jr. a reason not to retire
• NFL Rumors: Ravens additions might not be done after signing Melvin Gordon
• NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
• Is Mark Ingram’s new CFB gig a signal that he’s retired from NFL?
• NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?

I guess this qualifies as Rice “breaking his silence.”

"“I have to be strong for my wife. She is so strong. We are in good spirits. We have a lot of people praying for us and we’ll continue to support each other. I have to be there for [Janay] and my family right now and work through this.”"

Rice has been cut from the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL in response to TMZ’s release of a video clip of Rice striking his then-fiance Janay in the face during an argument at an Atlantic City casino.

Rice was initially suspended two games by the NFL for the incident, but the league insists that punishment was handed out without their having seen the TMZ tape.

Other sources have claimed the NFL did see the tape.

Since Rice’s original suspension, the NFL has implemented new disciplinary standards for domestic violence that include a lifetime ban for a second offense.

The league and commissioner Roger Goodell have been coming under more and more intense fire in the hours since TMZ released the video clip.

Some have gone so far as to allege an outright cover up.