Rather than delay his inevitable suspension until after a September 30 hearing, Chiefs WR Rashee Rice accepted a six-game ban, which he will begin serving immediately. As ESPN’s Nate Taylor details, there are several factors that informed Rice’s decision.
For one, he knew there was no guarantee that former U.S. district judge Sue L. Robinson, who was scheduled to hear his case, would have handed him a ban of fewer than six games. Secondly, he wanted to get his suspension out of the way early so that he would be available for Kansas City’s playoff push.
As our Adam La Rose recently observed, the earlier suspension will give Rice more time to continue healing from the LCL tear that prematurely ended his 2024 season. Taylor also points out that Rice will be eligible for an extension after the upcoming campaign, at which point he will have accrued three years of service time. Serving the ban at the beginning of the year will enable him to build momentum in that regard rather than starting the season on the field and then being forced to sit out a significant number of games in the middle of the 2025 schedule.
Rice’s criminal matter, which stemmed from a March 2024 hit-and-run incident that brought eight felony charges, concluded last month with a sentence of five years probation and a 30-day prison term. Rice received deferred adjudication, which gives him the opportunity to avoid the prison stay, but his NFL matter lingered for several weeks after the legal resolution.
With Rice on the sidelines, Kansas City’s WR targets will be shared by Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Royals. Rice, though, is probably the club’s best wideout, and while the Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl without him last season, they certainly felt his absence.
“It’s another threat,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of Rice. “Rashee gets those screens and he gets 15-20 yards. That kind of crushes a defense. When they’re worried about us going deep and then all of a sudden we’re hitting screens and getting the same explosive plays, that kind of completes the offense.”
Smith-Schuster and Brown will likely share time in Rice’s familiar slot receiver role until the SMU product returns to the field. He will miss games against the Chargers, Eagles, Giants, Ravens, Jaguars, and Lions, and he will not be eligible to practice until Week 7.
5 years probation and a big raise and extension seems more than fair for 8 felonies and almost killing a bunch or people. Dahmer would probably get probation now.
Hopefully he learns from this•
Hahahaha they never do
Lmao I wouldn’t say “never”
He learned as long as he is good at football they’ll get him off somehow.
True
True never was an exaggeration. 80% of the time though
Fair lol
We forget these guys are in their early 20s who just came into tons of money and don’t know how to act right..I was an idiot in my late teens early 20s, never anything close to what a lot of the guys do but still. IMO they should be held accountable for their actions like the rest of us normies, but thats how they get treated and is what it is. Yes, hopefully these guys learn in a manner that speaks to them eventually.
I don’t understand the people that complain. Stop supporting the product if you truly have an issue with how they conduct business.
Well, as long as we do what’s best for Rashee.
Lmao!!!
Since when does the player get to decide when to serve their suspension?
He could have appealed the suspension and waited for the hearing at the end of September. Instead, he chose to accept it and serve it immediately
Of course he did. Same reason Ohio St and Texas played in weak one. Get the L out of the way early. F this guy.
He wants his cake and he wants to eat it now.
So are Buggs and Ruggs headed back to the NFL too? They only have a few felonies each.
They’re sorry also. Can they pick when they get to serve their suspension?
Comment section has a room temperature IQ and zero reading comprehension. It’s not “him picking” when his suspension is served, he is waiving his right to appeal the suspension meaning he takes it immediately rather than deferring the punishment. All players have the right to appeal a suspension per their agreed upon CBA between the league and players’ union.
Ok Gare Bear.
Better step up Marquise Brown, there is no guarantee you will be back next year. Can Worthy get even better this year? Noah Gray will try to keep Kelce’s thoughts on his billion plus dollar bride.