After missing the Kansas City Chiefs’ OTAs and mandatory minicamp, former SMU receiver Rashee Rice is slated to be a free man on Tuesday.
DALLAS - It is the sort of quote that we shouldn't be too comfortable with.
After missing the Kansas City Chiefs’ OTAs and mandatory minicamp, former SMU receiver Rashee Rice is slated to be a free man on Tuesday.
“He gets out (of jail) here somewhere in this next week,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
And so it's back to football business for the 26-year-old receiver? So it seems, though Chiefs fans join SMU fans in hoping that Rice is sincere when he spoke on the experience.
“I’ve learned and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that,” Rice said recently. “I’ve learned and taken advantage of being able to learn from something like that.”
Maybe so.
Rice served a six-game NFL suspension to begin the 2025 season following his guilty plea in a dangerous 2024 street-racing case in Dallas in which multiple people were injured.
Lessons learned?
Not exactly, as last month, Rice tested positive for THC and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
There is another issue for Rice, as shortly before reporting to jail, he underwent surgery on his right knee. According to court records, a judge eventually approved a request to allow Rice to leave the facility temporarily for rehabilitation appointments.
Still, that situation is something less than ideal as well.
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“When he gets back, he — we have to get him caught up in doing what he needs to do,” Reid said. “But again – make sure he gets it. It’s not an easy thing he’s going through. Life lessons are important, but we’re all given chances to learn and he’s in that position now.
“I know lessons can be learned and that’s important.”
If Rice is right, he figures to serve as one of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes' top weapons.
Chiefs fans and SMU fans surely hope Rice is right ... on the field and off.
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