As the Baltimore Ravens prepare for their second game of the season against the Browns this Sunday in Cleveland, Ravens running back Ray Rice addressed the spitting incident between himself and Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor, and said that he didn't intentionally spit on him and that the incident is not what it appeared to be seven weeks ago.
Following the Ravens (3-4) 14-6 victory over the Browns (3-5) on Sept. 15, Taylor alleged that Rice spit in his face which led the lineman to retaliate by hitting the side of Rice's helmet as the two were jawing at each other after the game. Rice told ESPN that the incident was not what it had been made out to be and that he did not spit in his direction.
"It was two guys jawing at each other," Rice told ESPN Wednesday ahead of the Week 9 matchup. "I had my mouthpiece in, so when I went to say something back to him it looked as if I projected toward him. But I had my mouthpiece in. I was saying something, he was saying something. Obviously, that's what happened. We'll leave it at that."
A video of the alleged incident can be seen here
Rice wasn't fined by the league because they deemed the video of the incident inconclusive, and he's looking to just put the incident in the past as he shared his admiration for Taylor Wednesday.
"Phil Taylor is a great young player," Rice told ESPN. "He's coming along very well and he's making plays in their running game. He's a dominant force. I have tremendous respect for him. As long as I'm in the AFC North, it looks like we'll be going at each other two times a year."
Rice also said he regretted the on-field incident and that he has to be more level headed in the future.
"I got to keep my head level in those situations," Rice said per ESPN. "I don't ever want to feel myself in a situation where it seems like me and this guy has problems. I don't have a problem with him. But you know what, guys talk. It's part of their game. I really don't want to be a part of mine. I'll do my best to channel my emotions."
Rice has rushed for 242 yards on 86 attempts this season with three scores, but the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens are a game under .500 as the NFL reaches the midway point of the season.
Rice's comments reflect that there won't be any bad blood spilled over to Sunday's game, but the Browns and Ravens enter play each desperate for a win as they chase the first place Cincinnati Bengals (6-2), so emotions could be at an all-time high.
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