Former Baltimore Ravens NFL running back Ray Rice
Former Baltimore Ravens NFL running back Ray Rice (R) and his wife Janay arrive for a hearing at a New York City office building November 5, 2014. Rice is making his case on Wednesday to return to the field after the National Football League indefinitely suspended him from the game for claims of domestic violence. Rice, 27, claims that he was punished twice for the same offense, a one-punch knockout of his then-fiancee Janay Palmer during a February altercation at an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Controversial wide receiver Ray Rice is hoping that he gets a second chance in playing in the National Football League, or NFL, after his involvement in the infamous domestic violence which was caught on camera and consequently put him under fire from the league and the public.

"I'm optimistic that I'll get a second chance. I don't think this boils down to whether I can play football or not. Obviously I know that. I just think there's so much more that comes with it,” " Rice said in an extensive interview with The Baltimore Sun. “I know the PR side of it will be tough. I understand that. I just know that if a team that really truly genuinely looks at me and understood that this guy made a horrible mistake then they can structure a plan for me."

Rice added that he doesn’t like being singled out but is hoping that some other NFL team will understand him and his situation and believe in him that he can still help a squad in the upcoming 2015 NFL Season despite the controversial and checkered past he had. The Baltimore Ravens have recently announced that they will avoid players with domestic violence or abuse of women charges in their past, a stance that will most likely mean Rice’s time in Baltimore is over.

In the same interview, Rice shared that there are steps that he has already taking “to become a better person” and that’s he’s involved in counselling already to address the personal issues that has bugged him in the past. Rice also said that the person “that committed that horrible act of violence” which was caught on video is not him and that he’s a changed man.

Rice has yet to be invited to any NFL workout from either his previous team, the Ravens or other squads. He was cut by Baltimore and his $35 million contract when the video of him knocking out his then-fiancee and now-wife Janay Rice surfaced in September of 2014. Rice is not giving up his NFL dream though saying that he’s optimistic that an NFL team will give him a chance of playing in the league.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.

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