The Kansas City Chiefs will probably need to give drafting another pass-catcher even more priority as the 2024 NFL Draft draws closer because wide receiver Rashee Rice is expected to miss some time due to a suspension.
On March 30, Rice was taking part in a Saturday afternoon street race in Dallas with a Corvette while operating a Lamborghini Urus. Both drivers lost control of their cars, causing a multi-car collision that left several people injured and sent two individuals to the hospital.
Rice left the site and did not get in touch with the police for about 48 hours until he eventually did so and handed himself in.
Eight charges, including one case of aggravated assault, one count of collision causing serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury, are now being brought against him after he accepted full responsibility for the collision.
The crash victims are suing the Chiefs’ second-year receiver for millions of dollars, claiming punitive damages of at least $10 million.
There will be severe punishment for Rice, even though the NFL is waiting to act while the legal matter plays out.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Rice will likely face disciplinary action from the NFL, with a multi-game suspension anticipated as a minimum.
The NFL does appear to see this as a chance to send a message to its players, even though the NFL Players Association will challenge any punishment imposed by the league.
Rice’s incident occurred a little more than a year after Jalen Carter, a defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who was a member of the Georgia Bulldogs at the time, was charged with street racing, which may have contributed to the deaths of a staff member in the other car and a teammate of the Bulldogs.
All of this occurred after wide receiver Henry Ruggs of the Las Vegas Raiders entered a guilty plea to the high-speed crash that occurred in Las Vegas in 2021.
In that crash, Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog were killed. The driver was traveling on city streets at rates of up to 156 mph when he struck a car.
Although Rice’s collision did not result in any fatalities, it was the most recent instance of an NFL player driving carelessly and putting the lives of others around him in peril.
Consequently, the league may use him as an example to convey a message to players going forward.
