Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife, Janay, are reportedly turning to God following their very public domestic violence incident in February.
TMZ reported that the couple became born-again Christians, and were baptized in March. They also allegedly provide spiritual counseling to other couples.
Rice was caught on video knocking his then-fiancée unconscious by punching her in the face in an Atlantic City casino elevator. He was charged with assault, and was eventually cut from the Ravens, and suspended from the NFL. Charges against him were dropped after Janay declined to testify.
Sources say that Ray blames heavy consumption of alcohol for the violent incident, and that he has stopped consuming hard liquor as a result of the fall-out.
Janay was engaged to Ray at the time of the attack, and married him a month later. She has remained supportive of her husband through considerable backlash, and recently expressed frustration with the negative media attention.
"I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend," she wrote on Instagram.
"But to have to accept the fact that it's reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media & unwanted options [sic] from the public has [sic] caused my family.
"To make us relive a moment in our lives that we regret every day is a horrible thing. To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his [expletive] of [sic] for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific.
"THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don't you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is! Ravensnation we love you!"
Ray expressed admiration for his wife in a recent interview.
"I have to be strong for my wife," the 27-year-old told ESPN on Tuesday. "She is so strong. We are in good spirits. We have a lot people praying for us and we'll continue to support each other."
