Ngata On Former Teammate Ray Rice: 'He Would Be A Great Addition' [VIDEO]
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Having released veteran Reggie Bush, the Detroit Lions could be in the market for a running back. Former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice, who was released by the Ravens after a video emerged of him punching his now-wife, is available.
The newest member of the Lions, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, said he would recommend a team to take a chance on Rice, who rushed for 1,100-plus years in four straight seasons from 2009 to 2012.
"I've never hung out with him off-field, but he's a great guy," Ngata said in an interview for the Stoney and Bill Show on 97.1 The Ticket. "He's a great guy on the field, in the locker room, he's a great community guy, he does a lot for the community, and so of course I think he would be a great addition to this team. I love playing with him, I trusted him. You feel bad for his situation. You just hope nothing but the best for him."
If the Lions did sign Rice, he would be one of several former Ravens on the team, not including head coach Jim Caldwell and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, both of whom coached in Baltimore before coming to Detroit.
The Lions traded for Ngata after star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh departed in free agency and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Ngata understands the story line of him as the replacement for Suh, a perennial All-Pro who Wednesday inked a contract reportedly worth $114 million and $60 million guaranteed. He does not see himself that way, however.
"I don't see myself filling those shoes," Ngata said. "I'm just here to be me, play my game. Ndamukong Suh was a great player here, made a lot of great plays, got a well deserved contract, so it's just he's Ndamukong Suh and I'm me, so I'll just be the best person I can be for the Detroit Lions."
Ngata missed the last quarter of the 2014 season because he incurred a four-game suspension for testing positive for Adderall.
"You make mistakes," Ngata said. "Nobody's ever perfect, but I definitely learned from it, especially just getting suspended ... the pain that it brought me that I'm just at home and my teammates are out there playing the game. I learned from it and moved on, and hopefully I can never make a mistake like that again."
