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Ray Rice: Five potential landing spots

By Matt Verderame

Dec 8, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) reacts after being tackled against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) reacts after being tackled against the Minnesota Vikings at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 11, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is honored along with his teammates from the 1964 team prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is honored along with his teammates from the 1964 team prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Dallas Cowboys

You knew this was coming. The Dallas Cowboys, most than any other team in the league, are likely to take a chance on a talented player going through all kinds of problems. Rice is now more than a year removed from his domestic violence incident, making him a perfect candidate to join America’s Team on the cheap.

Had Dallas kept All-Pro running back DeMarco Murray, this would be an absolute no-go. Instead, the depth chart is dangerously thin with only Lance Dunbar, Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden hoping to gain some yardage. McFadden is the most talented of the trio, a former first-round pick of the Oakland Raiders, but he’s consistently hurt. If McFadden goes down, betting on Dunbar and Randle puts head coach Jason Garrett in a precarious situation.

Once more, Rice would be giving Tony Romo another weapon when teams have blanketed Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Rice’s best days are likely behind him, but defensive coordinators still have to value his pass-catching ability.

In the final analysis, owner/general manager Jerry Jones loves to take these kinds of chances. This offseason, Jones was reportedly interesting in trading for Adrian Peterson and signed defensive end Greg Hardy, both of whom were involved in violent crimes over the past year. In 2014, Peterson and Hardy were put on the Commissioner’s exempt list for the final 15 games.

Next: Belichick and Brady looking for help...

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