2014 is a year that Ray Rice and his wife Janay Palmer won’t forget in a hurry. It was a period that marked the beginning of their marriage as well as the end of Ray’s impressive NFL career.
Palmer, the woman in the center of it stood behind her man like a ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ even though she was the victim of abuse, and the perpetrator, her husband. But, here they are today still married and with kids, turning into a family that is unshakable despite what happened in the past.
Whenever the name Ray Rice is uttered, the majority of people don’t remember his football accomplishments. What they see is the face of “America’s poster child of domestic violence”.
The timeline of stories below tells how the couple met, their children, and the troubles they encountered.
How Janay Palmer Met Her Husband
Palmer and Rice first crossed each other’s path when they were just teenagers living in Westchester County, New York. Since they were from the same place, a friendship was built.
Sometimes later, Rice enrolled at Rutgers University, where he was playing football while Janay was at a local community college. Their rapport bloomed into romance, and by the time he joined the Ravens in 2008, the pair couldn’t possibly stay far away from each other. So, Palmer relocated to Maryland, Baltimore to be with her man and enrolled at Townson University to study Communications.
Immediately after she rounded her degree program at Townson University in 2010, Rice surprised her with a proposal; a car and a ring. Palmer said she almost passed out when he told her the ring and the car sitting in the driveway were hers.
The pair tied the nuptials in a secluded ceremony on 28th March 2014. Some months later, they had the celebration of their vows in June, which had in attendance, family, friends, and Rice’s teammates.
Palmer was gracefully robed in a strapless, bejeweled gown, and Rice in a gray suit and a bow tie, all surrounded by friends and family. The cake is shaped in form of a football with a tiny Ravens player floating on top.
Janay Palmer and Ray Rice Have Two Kids
Palmer and Rice welcomed their first child two years earlier before their wedding in 2014. She was born in February 2012. They named her Rayven, a name that was more of an acknowledgment to his team (Ravens) back then, though the spelling differs.
Palmer gave birth to their second child and first son, Jaylen in September 2016. The couple sees the child as the light in their darkness.
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How Their Troubles Began
The pair’s troubles started in February 2014 when Rice was still dating Palmer. They had an altercation in an Atlantic City casino elevator that resulted in the throwing of a few punches. Law enforcement agents revealed that the pair both hit each other, and however both declined medical treatment. The two were indicted with simple assault.
In the beginning, the debacle didn’t attract a media response. TMZ released the scandalous video of Rice dragging Palmer out of the elevator on 19th February 2014.
A day to their wedding, Rice was charged with a 3rd degree aggravated assault by a grand jury in Atlantic County on 27th March 2014. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Baltimore Ravens came to his defense at the beginning since he had no criminal records, and was mandated to go into anger management. He was handed a two-game suspension by the NFL, which was viewed by many as lenient.
A lengthier version of the video resurfaces on 8th September 2014 from TMZ showing how Rice punched Palmer and dragged her out of the elevator with both being drunk at the time. It impelled the Ravens to axe his deal with immediate effect.
His life and a flourishing NFL career took a downward hill. He put a fight, appealing the termination of his contract. He was recalled, but never to play the game he loved ever again.
Where Is Janay Palmer and Her Husband Today?
Palmer accused the media of exploiting the incident for gains and running her husband’s blooming career. She noted in an Instagram post that the media and the public caused her family a great deal of pain.
Rice has turned to philanthropy, donating and raising money for scholarships, paying hospital bills. And making donations to the House of Ruth. He has decided to stay away from the media, maintaining a low profile, and not granting interviews. He does not want his passion for charity to be viewed as a tool to restore his battered reputation.
Palmer’s husband is now a running backs coach for New Rochelle High School’s football team in New Rochelle. He has helped the side to triumph.
Other Facts About Janay Palmer And Her Husband
1. Rice Was One When His Father Died
He grew up barely knowing his father Calvin Reed who was killed in a drive-by shooting when he was a year old. Though he wasn’t the target of the shooting, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
2. Janay’s Husband Started Working Early
Having lost his father early, his mother Janet Rice told him to be a man, and he became one. He got his first job at the age of 8, sweeping hair in a barbershop. And later at 15, he started washing dishes as a camp counselor.
3. He Lost His Cousin Shaun In A Car Accident
His cousin brother Shaun moved in them after his mother died. He became like a father figure to Rice, since he was 10 years older. He had dreams of pursuing a career in music, but it was cut short when he died in a ghastly motor accident in 1998.
He inspired Rice to go after his dreams despite living in the projects.
4. Janay Palmer’s Net Worth
Although Janay’s net worth is not known, Rice has made a decent amount from his former NFL career. Currently, he has a net worth of $12 million. The fortune enables him to take care of his family’s needs, plus the number of charity works he has been involved in.
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