Ray Rice talks: "I have to be strong for my wife"

In his first public comment since being released from his contract with the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL, Ray Rice issued a statement on Tuesday saying that he and his family are "in good spirits." Rice's dismissal follows the release of video footage showing him punching his then-fiancée, now-wife, Janay Rice, in a hotel elevator, knocking her unconscious before dragging her by the hair into a lobby.

Rice spoke with ESPN's Josina Anderson and said that he and Janay plan to "work through this":

I have to be strong for my wife. She is so strong. We are in good spirits. We have a lot of people praying for us and we'll continue to support each other. I have to be there for [Janay] and my family right now and work through this.

Janay Rice also issued her first public statement regarding the controversy on Tuesday, blasting the media on Instagram for invading her privacy and calling for her husband's removal from the NFL.

(h/t Talking Points Memo)