Ravens: Ray Rice says no disrespect was intended to Steelers

Ravens' Ray Rice says he traded his gloves for a Terrible Towel with a fan after Sunday's game and meant no disrespect to the Steelers. He says he cherishes the rivalry.

By Jason Butt

Nov 21, 2012 at 8:46 pm ET • 2 min read

Ravens RB Ray Rice says he meant no disrespect to the Steelers by wearing a Terrible Towel after Baltimore's victory. (US Presswire)

Ray Rice said he never meant to offend Steelers fans after wearing one of Pittsburgh's famed Terrible Towels on his head while walking off Heinz Field following the Baltimore Ravens' 13-10 win this past Sunday.

What was deemed a shot at Rice, Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley tweeted, "Bad idea ray just ask lendale white and tj whosyourmama," referring to instances where LenDale White and T.J. Houshmandzadeh disrespected Pittsburgh's famed fan item.

However, on Wednesday, Rice said he meant no disrespect when he put the Terrible Towel on his head. In fact, it was part of a trade he made with a Steelers fan so he could keep the Terrible Towel as a keepsake.

"A fan traded me my gloves for the towel," Rice said. "I didn't stomp it or do anything wrong. I actually walked out with it, and I think I'm going to save it and put it in my basement to cherish the rivalry."

Rice added: "It's not like you get out there and do derogatory stuff and spit -- no, none of that stuff. If you think about it, where I'm at in my career, you cherish these rivalries, cherish the moments. I apologize to those who saw it as disrespectful. For me, I thought it was a pretty cool gesture, exchanging my gloves with a fan and walking out with it."

During the season, Rice has exchanged jerseys with players on the opposing team following games, much like it is customary to do in soccer. So far, Rice has traded game jerseys with Browns RB Trent Richardson, Texans RB Arian Foster and Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles.

Rice said this is the first year he's started trading his items for someone else's, so he can keep track of all the different teams he's been able to play against.

As far as the Terrible Towel, Rice said it'll go into safekeeping along with all the other items he has collected.

"I'll keep it in my basement and when I get to grow up and my time is done, you get to look back on these moments and say, 'You know, I got to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz (Field) and the history that's there," Rice said.

Injury report: CB Jimmy Smith (sports hernia surgery) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against San Diego. ... CB Chris Johnson (hamstring) and WR Jacoby Jones (ankle) were listed as non participants during Wednesday's practice. Limited participants: NT Terrence Cody (elbow), TE Ed Dickson (neck), LB Dannell Ellerbe (broken thumbs/toe), S James Ihedigbo (neck), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh/knee), DT Haloti Ngata (shoulder/knee), TE Dennis Pitta (concussion), S Bernard Pollard (chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder) and OLB Terrell Suggs (shoulder/Achilles). Full participants: LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (shoulder), OLB Courtney Upshaw (shoulder), RG Marshal Yanda (ankle).