Fansided

Baltimore Ravens to address ESPN report after Sunday’s game

By Phil Watson

Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on a box on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on a box on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens on Saturday reiterated their claim that a report on the team’s handling of the Ray Rice situation contained inaccuracies and said they will address those after they play the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Kevin Byrne, the team’s vice president of public and community relations, told The Baltimore Sun that the game has to come first.

"“Our focus right now is—we only have 16 of these—we have to play football,” Byrne said. “Some of us are going from here to the airport to get on a charter to go to Cleveland, so really, our focus is to put all the energy into beating the Browns, a division opponent, a very huge game for us.“Then after that, the ESPN piece has inaccuracies and we want to address it, but we need to focus on the Browns first, then we’ll address it after that.”"

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Byrne did not detail what the inaccuracies were but said the Ravens’ side of the story needs to get out.

ESPN reported that team officials overruled coach John Harbaugh, who wanted to cut Rice in February after he assaulted his then-fiancee in Atlantic City, N.J.

The report also claimed team officials knew the contents of the video released by TMZ on Sept. 8 and tried to keep it from going public while lobbying the NFL for leniency on Rice.

"“This is clearly an unusual time for the franchise and I think one thing we’ve tried to be historically, and I think it reflects on the way the fans react to us on a regular basis, is we’ve been transparent,” Byrne said.“This is new territory for us, we’re learning as we go but we do believe that the fans and the people of Baltimore do need to hear our side of the story, so there will be our side of the story. But I think we’ll continue to try to be a transparent organization to the people in this area.”"

The NFL initially suspended Rice for two games for his role in the February incident, but after video of Rice striking his now-wife in an elevator was released, the Ravens released him and the NFL announced he was suspended indefinitely.

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