Ray Rice is clearly expecting to return to the NFL -- training every single day at an exclusive athletic facility in Connecticut ... TMZ Sports has learned.
The former Baltimore Ravens running back is a regular at the BlueStreak Sports Training Center in Stamford, CT ... and we're told he's been impressive with speed and footwork drills.
We're told Rice has been at the center for the past "few months."
Rice is eligible to play in the NFL again after serving his suspension for the domestic violence incident -- but the question now ... is there a team that will actually take a chance on Rice?
Ray Rice is officially no longer a domestic violence offender -- the charges from the elevator beating of his then-fiancee have been dismissed and expunged.
The former Baltimore Ravens star completed a pretrial intervention program, and the Atlantic County D.A. sent a dismissal order to the court. Judge Michael A. Donio signed the order early Thursday morning.
As we previously reported, Rice struck a deal with prosecutors -- he was initially indicted on a charge of felony aggravated assault, but the D.A. lowered that to simple assault, a misdemeanor. The deal was controversial ... especially after TMZ Sports first posted the video of Rice inside a casino elevator, brutally knocking Janay Palmer unconscious.
According to docs, Rice was in the supervised intervention program for 12 months. He also had to pay a $125 fine.
So, Rice has now put the criminal case behind him -- and late last year NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him, but Rice has not been picked up by a team yet.
Lawrence Taylor believes Ray Rice can still play in the NFL -- and believes SOMEONE should give the guy a second chance in the league this season.
It's an interesting stance for Taylor, who knows firsthand about getting a 2nd chance in the NFL.
After all, he was suspended by the league for 30 days in 1988 after testing positive for cocaine ... but came back to make 3 more Pro Bowls and a 2nd Super Bowl title.
There's more ... Taylor also believes the #1 pick in the upcoming draft should be Jameis Winston ... another guy with a rocky past.
Question is ... will NFL owners be as willing to forgive as LT?
There is serious buzz in the NFL community surrounding Ray Rice -- with multiple sources telling us there are a handful of teams that have expressed "legitimate interest" in the embattled running back.
Rice hasn't played a down in the league since KO'ing his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City casino last year ... but now, he's a free agent looking for a home -- and we're told the feedback is very positive.
Sources tell us Rice's agents have engaged with multiple teams recently -- and we're told there are serious discussions among team decision-makers about the possibility of bringing him on board.
One big NFL agent -- who does NOT rep Ray Rice -- told us he's convinced at least one team will take a shot at the former Pro Bowl player.
"He will be back on the field very soon with some team ... I can guarantee that."
Ray Rice is moving on from Baltimore -- selling the mansion he built in 2012 ... the same year he signed a $35 million contract with the Ravens ... this according to the Baltimore Sun.
The 4,736 sq. ft. home was listed at $899,000 -- and the Sun says Ray has already found a buyer. The sale is reportedly set to close in April.
The house is pretty sweet -- 5 beds, 4.5 baths on 1.08 acres.
So, where's Ray headed next? The disgraced running back says he and his wife Janay are moving back to his hometown of New Rochelle, NY.
Rice is still looking to sign with another NFL team ... so it's possible they could move again ... if anyone is willing to take a chance on the guy.
Ray Rice found a way to keep himself in football shape after he was cut by the Ravens and suspended from the NFL back in September ... he hit up a park league game ... and crushed it.
Rice hit up a touch league game in Baltimore roughly one month after TMZ Sports published the inside-the-elevator video ... and asked the guys if he could join in one of the games.
Sources tell us ... the guys welcomed Rice onto the squad (coincidentally named the Ravens) and he played a little wide receiver and cornerback.
One source tells us, "He caught the game winning interception (you can see in the video) and everyone went nuts!"
We're told everyone tried to up their game to impress Rice ... but ultimately, "he was on a whole different level."
One player tells us by the end of the game, he won over just about everyone -- and says, "We would love to have him back if he ever wants to play with us again."
Ray Rice says he felt so terrible after the public backlash following last year's elevator attack ... that "I almost felt like at one point that it wasn't worth living."
Rice sat down with the Baltimore Sun ... and says he was emotionally devastated after the video went public.
"The big picture of it all, being the person that I am, I really felt horrible. You almost want to punish yourself. I know I'm never going to win the battle of public opinion. Honestly, I almost felt like at one point that it wasn't worth living. I see why people commit suicide."
Rice continued, "It hurt that bad. I was low, real low. It hurt that bad because you worked your whole life to do all the right things and then you're the world's most hated person. It was really tough. My daughter, oh Lord, I grew up without a father, there's no way I could check out on my own family."
"Time does heal everything, but I don't think people are going to forget this. I want people to not forget about the incident, but I want people to see there's a human being on the other side. This is not a monster, a guy who's a repeat offender. I'm not the guy they stereotype me to be. I'm not excusing what I did."
With the one year anniversary of his infamous elevator incident coming up, Ray Rice has issued an apology to the city of Baltimore ... saying, "I apologize for the horrible mistake I made."
In an open letter which begins "Dear Baltimore," Rice says ... "This is not a farewell or goodbye. The last seven years that my family and I have spent in Baltimore have by far been the best of our lives."
He goes on ... "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."
"Thank you, Baltimore Ravens, for all you have done for my family and I. I’m very grateful to Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, John Harbaugh, and everyone at 1 Winning Drive. I love you all very much, and I’ll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens."
It's interesting Rice thanks Bisciotti -- since the Baltimore Ravens owner essentially backstabbed him ... by accusing Ray of lying after he told Ray he had his back.
As it turns out, it seems Ray never lied -- and the organization essentially hung him out to dry.
Ray Rice has just received a $1 MILLION contract offer from a fantasy football website hoping to sign him as a spokesperson ... but there's a catch -- if you hit your wife, we get our money back.
TMZ Sports has learned ... Rice has been contacted by ProDraftLeague.com to be an official PRO Draft League Fantasy Insider.
CEO Mark Tadros tells TMZ, "Mr. Rice has shown deep remorse for his act of domestic violence and I feel he deserves a second chance."
We're told the job is a 1-year gig which pays a $500k base salary and includes another $500k in bonuses based on membership milestones.
Rice's job obligations would include:
-- 2 TV commercials -- 2 viral videos -- 1 photo shoot -- 30 media interviews -- weekly column with personal analysis on which NFL players to play -- field reporter work, interviewing various NFL players for the site
Now for the catch -- "It's been one year since Mr. Rice physically assaulted his wife and we are very confident that he will not do it again," Tadros says.
"But in the event that he does while being employed by Pro Draft League, his contract will be immediately terminated and the entire $500k must be returned PLUS an additional $500k in damages that our brand will incur for being associated with Mr. Rice."
So far, no word if Rice plans on accepting the offer.
Ray Rice is a "good man" -- and has proven that he deserves a second chance in the NFL ... so says NFL Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden, who played with Rice on the Ravens.
Ogden is out in Phoenix for the Super Bowl -- and laid out the case for the running back, telling TMZ Sports:
"We understand that the man made a huge mistake, but he's done everything he could over the past year to make up for it."
Ogden continued, "I think his record before that speaks to the fact that he really is a decent human being ... and hopefully somebody will give him a chance because hes a good running back and a good man."
Ogden says there's no way in hell the Ravens will resign him to the team -- but says, "Somebody should give him a chance."
Young, rich, single NFL players better get chicks to sign contracts before taking them out on dates ... at least that's how former Steelers superstar Hines Ward sees it.
The ex Super Bowl champ went on Meredith Vieira's talk show and said single NFL players are being targeted by conniving women. Ward's point seemed to be that these women are falsely accusing players in domestic violence cases.
Pretty bold statement -- and Ward even went on to suggest single players get something in writing with their dates.
Ray Rice went ALL OUT to spoil his wife on her birthday Wednesday -- and Janay Rice was so impressed, she bragged about having the "best husband in the world."
Sources tell TMZ Sports ... the former Baltimore Ravens star organized a day-long celebration for Janay ... with a dinner party, private celebrity chef, fancy cake and a special appearance by a former teammate.
The chef is former "Hell's Kitchen" competitor JR Robinson -- who cooked up lobster, lamb chops, mussels and some special dessert for Janay's family and friends.
Among the friends ... Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith -- whose family has remained extremely tight with the Rice's over the past year.
After the party was over, Janay put a message on social media thanking Ray -- "I literally have the best husband in the world. He went above and beyond to make my birthday special."
As for how Ray paid for everything, he reportedly just settled a grievance with the Ravens in which he wanted more than $3.5 million for cutting him over the elevator video.
No word on how much cash Rice ultimately received in the settlement -- but we're guessing it covered the party.
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has just released his report about his 4-month investigation into the NFL's handling of the Ray Rice situation ... and essentially says the NFL dropped the ball.
"We concluded there was substantial information about the incident even without the in-elevator video –indicating the need for a more thorough investigation."
"The NFL should have done more with the information it had," Mueller said.
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Mueller also called BS on an Associated Press report which claimed a female employee received the video before it was published on TMZ Sports.
"Responding to a news story that a woman at the NFL confirmed receipt of the video in the April 9 call, investigators traced every outgoing phone call from the NFL, and took several other investigative actions that are detailed in the report.
"The investigators interviewed every female employee, contractor or vendor whose electronic badge recorded that she was in the league's main office on that day. Each was asked whether they made such a call or had any knowledge about the receipt by the NFL of an in-elevator video of the Rice incident."
Mueller says his investigators spoke with more than 200 NFL employees and searched more than 400 computers but didn't find a single digital trace or sign of the in-elevator video before we published it on TMZ Sports.
The report also says, "League investigators did not contact any of the police officers who investigated the incident, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, or the Revel to attempt to obtain or view the in-elevator video or to obtain other information."
Mueller says investigators also set up an anonymous tip line for NFL employees -- but "we received no calls."
Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement, "While this investigation has now concluded, our focus on the underlying issues and our commitment to positive change remain as strong as ever. We have all learned a great deal in the past months and expect to be judged by how we lead going forward on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault."
Ray Rice and then fiancee Janay Palmer were handcuffed the night of the Atlantic City elevator fight ... and even kissed each other in an elevator as police escorted them out of the casino.
The surveillance video posted by ABC News shows cops seated with Ray and Janay at separate tables in the Revel Hotel and Casino.
About 1 minute into the video police start to walk Ray and Janay out, they put them both together in the same elevator. Remember this isn't long after Ray knocked out Janay in an elevator.
Both Ray and Janay were arrested for assault, but charges were quickly dropped against Janay.
Ray Rice is back in the good graces of many Baltimore Ravens fans ... who flocked to him last night during a Christmas charity event.
Ray and Janay Rice went to a Toys for Tots drive organized by his ex-teammate Torrey Smith -- and no one shied away from Ray as he walked around the event. In fact, he and Janay posed for several pictures with people during his first public appearance since his suspension was overturned.
Organizers say this is the 3rd consecutive year that Rice has pitched in with the charity.
He told a reporter for WJZ ... "I just made a horrible mistake in my life but you know, if they truly believe in second chances - they would forgive me "
We've said it before -- comebacks happen all the time.
Ray and Janay Rice partied hard Monday night ... their friends threw them a surprise party -- complete with cake and hard booze -- to celebrate being in Baltimore for seven years.
Janay posted a few pics from the party at their home -- looks like they played Cards Against Humanity and drank beers and a handle of Fireball.
We don't know what Ray was drinking, but as we first reported -- he blamed the entire elevator incident on hard alcohol and told friends he was swearing off the stuff completely.
Janay captioned her pics with: "our Bmore family is seriously the best!!! We thought we were having a normal Monday night then the doorbell rang...little did we know there they were with drinks, food, games, and the most of all love & support!"
One of her hashtags was "#lovenomatterwhereweare" ... perhaps an acknowledgment that after 7 years they'll most likely be leaving Baltimore when -- and if -- Ray gets picked up by another NFL team.
