Ray Rice Elevator Video

Ray Rice won't ever have to revisit the scene of his infamous domestic violence incident ... that's because the Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ is closing down.

The casino will close by September 10, making it the fourth casino in AC to shut down this year. Revel only opened in April 2012, at a cost of $2.4 billion.

Ultimately, the casino's legacy might end up being the place where Rice was caught on surveillance cameras dragging his seemingly unconscious fiancée out of an elevator ... before they were both arrested for domestic violence.

Rice struck a deal and served no jail time for the incident. He was suspended by the NFL for two games.

Ray Rice says the incident inside of that casino elevator in New Jersey in February was "the biggest mistake of my life" ... and says he takes "full responsibility" for his actions.

The Baltimore Ravens running back addressed the media to discuss the 2 game suspension handed out by the NFL as a result of the arrest -- and while he never specifically said he KO'd his wife that night, he acknowledges that he did do SOMETHING wrong.

"I don't condone any of my behavior. I take full responsibility for my actions. My wife can do no wrong."

Ray said what happened that night was "a huge mistake on my behalf."

"I know that a lot of people out there have lost respect ... maybe not like me anymore. That's my fault. I have to own that."

Rice also says never planned on appealing any punishment the NFL decided to give -- no matter how harsh. He also says the incident in Atlantic City was a "one-time incident."

"I've never had a problem with domestic abuse."

ESPN is yanking Stephen A. Smith off the air -- suspending him for the inflammatory comments he made about women and domestic violence last week.

The network says Smith will not appear on his show "First Take" or on ESPN Radio until next Wednesday. During a discussion about Ray Rice's suspension, Stephen A. said he would tell women to make sure they're not doing anything "to provoke wrong actions" ... in addition to telling men what NOT to do.

This morning on "First Take" Smith apologized -- and ESPN released a statement, saying ... “We will continue to have constructive dialogue on this important topic. Stephen’s comments last Friday do not reflect our company’s point of view."

The network continued ... "As his apology demonstrates, he recognizes his mistakes and has a deeper appreciation of our company values.”

Smith's comments also infuriated fellow ESPN anchor Michelle Beadle. She's yet to react to his suspension.

ESPN has a civil (and gender) war on its hands ... as "SportsNation" host Michelle Beadle has lashed out on Twitter at "First Take" host Stephen A. Smith for his comments about domestic abuse.

It began Friday morning when Smith, in the context of the NFL's suspension of Ray Rice, brought up the idea that there are things women can do to prevent themselves from becoming domestic violence victims.

Beadle, who revealed she was once in an abusive relationship, said she "would never feel clean again" after taking in Smith's comments. She wrote, "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend...I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke"

She added, "Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."

For his part, Smith did apologize to Beadle and said he "could've been more articulate on the matter."

But he seemed to make the situation worse when he went on to say, "... What about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them? ... I was simply saying that preventive measures always need to be addressed because there's only but so much that can be done after the fact....once the damage is already done."

Oh, the damage is done alright.

The NFL has suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for TWO GAMES stemming from his arrest at a NJ casino ... where he allegedly KO'd his then-fiancee Janay Palmer.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... Ray was seen dragging Palmer's unconscious body out of an elevator in the Revel Casino in Atlantic City back in February. Both Rice and Palmer were arrested for assault.

Eventually, Rice struck a deal with prosecutors in which he will avoid jail ... if he completes a domestic violence program. So far, things seem to be going smoothly.

But the NFL has decided to take action of it's own -- concluding that Rice violated the league's personal conduct policy. He'll miss two games -- and two game checks -- totaling $470,588. Plus, the league fined Rice $58k.

In yet another attempt to prove everything is cool between them, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife Janay posed for a couply, non-violent photo together on Instagram.

Janay -- who previously apologized for her role in allegedly getting K.O.'d in an Atlantic City casino -- included the message, "We gon show the world the definition of real #therices #usagainsttheworld."

Of course, Ray & Janay were arrested back in February after an alleged physical altercation at the Revel casino ... and cameras captured Ray dragging Janay's unconscious body out of an elevator.

Just last month, the two addressed the media and said they felt counseling after the incident has helped them grow closer as a couple.

Ray Rice and his wife Janay Palmer just addressed the media TOGETHER -- both expressing regret for the violent incident at a NJ casino back in February.

Ray spoke first ... apologizing to the Ravens ... and adding, "I also want to apologize to my fans, to the kids, to anyone who's affected by this situation that me and my wife were in."

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has struck a deal with prosecutors that could keep him out of jail for allegedly KOing his then-fiance in an Atlantic City casino ... but there's one big catch.

Rice was accepted into a pretrial intervention program on Tuesday -- a program that allows defendants to avoid prosecution pending the completion of a specific set of rehabilitative conditions.

Officials wouldn't give any specific details on Rice's program -- only saying that it will last one year ... and he MUST stay out of trouble during the course of the PTI.

If he can satisfy those requirements, prosecutors will drop the 3rd degree aggravated assault charge.

Rice's attorney told ESPN, "We're very happy with the result. We're glad that the court and the prosecutor's office agreed PTI was the appropriate disposition for the case."

As we previously reported, Rice was arrested on February 15 after allegedly beating up Janay Palmer (who he later married) at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

TMZ Sports published video showing Rice dragging Palmer's unconscious body out of a casino elevator ... but Rice's attorney insisted there was more to the story than meets the eye.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has plead NOT GUILTY to attacking his then-fiance at an Atlantic City casino back in February.

Rice appeared in court in New Jersey moments ago -- with his lawyer and his wife Janay Palmer by his side -- stemming from an incident at the Revel Casino.

TMZ Sports posted footage showing Rice dragging an unconscious Palmer out of an elevator that night before he was arrested for aggravated assault.

Prosecutors reportedly offered Rice a plea deal -- which includes probation and NO jail time if he completes an anger management class. Rice has not officially accepted the deal.

Rice is due back in court on May 29th.

Ray Rice might have to wait a couple of months before the wedding gifts start to roll in -- because TMZ Sports has learned the newly married NFL star isn't having a wedding reception until June.

As we previously reported, the Baltimore Ravens running back traded "I Dos" with longtime girlfriend Janay Palmer last week in a quiet private ceremony.

Now, we know the couple is planning to celebrate the occasion with a standard reception -- but it won't go down for another couple of months. The reason for the delay is unclear.

Ray Rice and his fiancée Janay Palmer put a rush on their wedding -- getting married the day after he was indicted for assaulting her in an Atlantic City casino.

Ray Rice was indicted today for striking his fiancée in the elevator of an Atlantic City casino -- the alleged crime was caught on surveillance video first published by TMZ Sports.

The Governor of Maryland tells TMZ Sports ... he feels a "tremendous amount of disappointment" in Baltimore Ravens superstar Ray Rice after learning about his domestic violence arrest.

Gov. Martin O'Malley -- a huge Ravens fan -- was walking through D.C. this weekend when we asked him for his thoughts on the situation ... and it's clear, Martin is pretty devastated.

"You know what, its ... I dont know that it has anything to do with being a fan or not being a fan," O'Malley said.

"You always feel a tremendous amount of disappointment whenever someone finds themselves in a situation involving this sort of domestic violence ... and the public attention to it only makes that pain magnified."

Watch the video ... O'Malley's disappointment is palpable.

If Ray Rice actually laid one finger on his fiancee, he deserves a serious ass-beating ... so says his former Baltimore Ravens teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

T.J. -- who played with Ray back in 2010 -- tells TMZ Sports ... he was "completely floored" when he learned Ray had been arrested for allegedly attacking his fiancee.

"He didn't come across as a guy that would do something like that."

Housh -- who has 3 daughters -- says the footage of Ray dragging his fiancee around the casino "like a sack of potatoes" doesn't help Ray's case ... and if he actually K.O.'d her, as he's been accused of doing, Ray should pay.

"Now I look at it like, 'What if that's my child?' If that's my child, I'm whooping his ass. Or if I cant, I'll find somebody that can or something that can."

T.J. says he'll reserve judgement until all the facts are out ... and still believes Ray is a good dude ... but notes, "You don't know what people do on their own time."

Ray Rice has been scratched from a charity event to benefit abused animals ... after organizers decided the circumstances surrounding Ray's domestic violence arrest would be too big of a distraction.

Rice had been scheduled to appear at a kickoff party for the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' kickoff party on Friday ... but he's since been replaced by Baltimore Ravens teammate Haloti Ngata.

A rep for the MDSPCA told the Baltimore Sun the decision was mutual between the org. and Rice because "they didn't want to take the focus off the animals and the cause."

Of course, Ray's been the center of a media tidal wave after TMZ Sports posted footage showing the running back dragging his seemingly unconscious fiancee out of an elevator at an Atlantic City casino following an alleged domestic incident early Saturday morning.