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Ravens owner: We didn't ask NFL to go easy on Ray Rice

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti denied an ESPN report that alleged he had pushed the NFL to lighten Ray Rice's indefinite suspension
After damning report, Ravens owner goes on offense 02:07

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti criticized a report that suggests he and other team officials tried to persuade the NFL to be lenient on Ray Rice after the running back was arrested for knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator.

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Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti met with reporters Monday to dispute a report by ESPN about how the team reacted to the Ray Rice case. CBS News

Bisciotti spoke Monday after ESPN reported last week that the owner, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome pushed Commissioner Roger Goodell for leniency for their star running back.

"Their accusations didn't jibe with what we know is fact," said Bisciotti, who denied asking for leniency and said he expected Rice to be suspended 4-6 games.

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The owner also said, "What's obvious is the majority of the sources work for Ray.... They are building a case for reinstatement."

Rice was originally suspended for two games, but after a video surfaced on Sept. 8 showing the violent attack, he was released by the team and suspended indefinitely by the league. He has appealed his suspension.

"As I stated in our letter to you on September 9, we did not do all we should have done, and no amount of explanation can remedy that. But there has been no misdirection or misinformation by the Ravens," Bisciotti said in a statement released before the news conference.

Ravens owner defends team's actions in Ray Rice case 01:20

"We have stated what we knew and what we thought throughout -- from the original report of the incident, to the release of the first videotape, to the release of the second videotape, which revealed a much harsher reality," Bisciotti added in the released statement. "As we said in our response to ESPN's questions on Friday, it was our understanding based on Ray's account that in the course of a physical altercation between the two of them he slapped Janay with an open hand, and that she hit her head against the elevator rail or wall as she fell to the ground."

During the press conference, Bisciotti said he should have pushed harder to obtain the footage.

"There's no excuse for me to not demand the video," Bisciotti said. "It never crossed my mind and I'm deeply sorry for that. If it had crossed my mind, I would have demanded it and gotten it."

Rice punched Janay Palmer in a casino elevator on Feb. 15. He was arrested on assault charges, and a police summons stated that Rice had struck Palmer with his hand, rendering her unconscious. Rice has been accepted into New Jersey's pretrial intervention program, which enabled him to avoid jail time and could result in having the charge expunged from his record after he meets the requirements.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome reiterated in the team's statement Monday that Rice had been honest with him.

"When I met with Ray to discuss the incident, I asked him one question: "Did you hit her?" He responded: "Yes," Newsome said. "Ray and I didn't discuss details beyond that, because in my mind if he hit her, no matter the circumstances or explanation, he needed to own the situation. I immediately focused on Ray taking responsibility and making amends.

"I later said Ray didn't lie to me because he told me he hit her, and that is what the video later showed -- although the video was much more violent than what I had pictured."

According to the ESPN report, the Ravens believed this would "fortify the team's argument to Goodell that Rice should be given a suspension of fewer games."

Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in late July under the NFL's personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault for the Feb. 15 attack.

In Monday's statement, Ravens coach John Harbaugh denied he wanted Rice released after the first videotape surfaced.

"I did not recommend cutting Ray Rice from the team after seeing the first videotape," the coach said in the release. " I was very disturbed by that tape, and I told people that the facts should determine the consequences. When I saw the second videotape, I immediately felt that we needed to release Ray."

Added Newsome: "Neither John nor anyone else ever recommended cutting Ray Rice before we saw the second videotape on September 8."

Within weeks, in the wake of harsh criticism from around the country, Goodell acknowledged in a letter to all 32 NFL owners that he "didn't get it right."

Rice had already served the first game of that suspension when the video surfaced.

There remain questions as to whether the NFL had access to the video, and the ESPN report said Cass never asked for a copy of the video.

The Associated Press has reported the video was sent to NFL offices in April, and the league subsequently hired former FBI director Robert Mueller to look into how the NFL sought and handled evidence in the domestic violence case.

While reiterating that Rice would never play for the Ravens again, Bisciotti said he's open to hiring the former running back in the future.

"People that redeem themselves are the best ones to lead others. So I believe this was Ray's one terrible moment," Bisciotti said. "I believe in my heart that Ray would be a great addition to us when it comes to trying to steer these guys, young men to grown men."

The Ravens owner also vowed the team will handle domestic violence incidents differently.

"I give you my word that some things are going to change. I give you my word," Bisciotti said, adding it was "pretty safe" to say the Ravens now have a zero-tolerance policy toward domestic violence.

"Can we avoid situations like Ray Rice's? Absolutely not. Will we handle it differently? 100 percent. I guarantee you we will."

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