Ray Rice breaks silence: 'I have to be strong for my wife'

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Rice alongside Palmer in May 2014.
Mel Evans / AP

Ray Rice broke his silence a day after his contract was terminated by the Baltimore Ravens.

"I have to be strong for my wife," Rice told ESPN's Josina Anderson during a phone interview. "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 then handed the phone to his wife, who added, "I love my husband. I support him...I want people to respect our privacy in this family matter."

On Tuesday morning, Janay Rice also took to Instagram in support of her husband.

"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that it's reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options from the public has caused my family. To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass of for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific. THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don't you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravensnation we love you!"