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What do we know about Chiefs WR’s legal situation?

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What do we know about Chiefs WR’s legal situation?

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The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to become the first team in history to win three consecutive Super Bowls, and to do so, they will need consistent production from their wide receivers.

But as the start of NFL play gets closer, the question about quarterback Rashee Rice’s status looms; namely, why hasn’t he been suspended?

On March 30, Rice was allegedly involved in a six-car crash in Dallas that sent two people to the hospital. Rice is charged with eight counts: one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision with serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision with injury.

The Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night in the NFL opener, a rematch of last year’s AFC Finals. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Here’s everything you need to know about Rashee Rice’s legal situation:

Why wasn’t Rashee Rice suspended?

During an Aug. 29 press conference, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said it was unlikely Rice would be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, essentially a form of paid leave, paving the way for him to start the 2024 season on the field.

“We do not anticipate that he will be placed on the commissioner’s exempt list unless there is a material change in the case,” McCarthy said at the time.

NFL vice president of communications, public relations and policy Jeff Miller added, however, that the league will continue to monitor developments in the Rice case.

Typically, the NFL waits until law enforcement has completed its investigations and the legal process is complete before imposing any type of suspension. That said, just because Rice hasn’t been punished for his alleged role in the accident doesn’t mean he ultimately won’t. The league could decide to investigate the matter further — regardless of the outcome of the legal proceedings — and could decide to impose some type of punishment, whether it’s a suspension, a fine, or both.

As for the length of a potential suspension, it’s hard to say. That will depend on the timeline of the court case, as well as how long the league takes to undertake additional investigative work, including potential witness interviews.

What was Rashee Rice charged with?

According to a police summary obtained in April by USA TODAY Sports, Rice was allegedly involved in a six-car accident. The crash occurred on March 30 at approximately 6:25 p.m. local time on North Central Expressway in northern Dallas. Police determined that two drivers, one in a Corvette and the other in a Lamborghini, were “speeding in the far left lane” before losing control, causing the Lamborghini to veer off the roadway and hit the center divider. This caused a “chain collision” involving four other cars.

“The occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette fled the scene without stopping to check if anyone needed medical attention or providing any information,” the police summary reads.

Police added that two drivers were treated at the scene for minor injuries, while two passengers in the other car were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A Dallas police investigation determined that Rice was the driver of the Lamborghini. Police formally issued a warrant for Rice’s arrest on April 10. Rice cooperated with authorities in the case and eventually turned himself in.

In April, Rice and Teddy Knox, the alleged driver of the Corvette, were sued for more than $10 million by people who say they suffered “serious injuries” in the crash.

Then, in May, Rice was reportedly suspected of involvement in another incident, this time an alleged attack at a Dallas nightclub. The victim later asked for no charges to be filed against Rice for his alleged role in the case.

What did Rashee Rice say about his role in the disaster?

In April, Rice issued a statement apologizing for his role in the matter.

“Today I met with Dallas PD investigators regarding Saturday’s incident,” Rice wrote in a story posted to his verified Instagram page. “I take full responsibility for my involvement in this matter and will continue to cooperate with the appropriate authorities. I sincerely apologize to everyone affected by Saturday’s incident.”

Earlier, Rice’s attorney, Royce West, confirmed that his client told Dallas police that he was driving the Lamborghini involved in the crash.

“This is a young man who made a mistake,” West said at a news conference at the time, adding that Rice had taken responsibility for his role in the incident and would take steps to help those who were injured.

Who is Rashee Rice?

Rice, 24, was born in Philadelphia but hails from North Richland Hills, a suburb west of Dallas. Rice played football at Richland High School and then played in college at Southern Methodist University, which is about a mile from the site of the car accident.

Rice was a 2023 rookie with Kansas City and caught 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming a key part of the offense as the Chiefs cruised to a Super Bowl victory. Rice’s regular-season totals in receptions and yards ranked second on the team behind tight end Travis Kelce, and his receiving touchdowns total was the highest on the team.

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