Former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson expressed his disappointment in Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice after he was allegedly involved in a car crash in Dallas and fled the scene. Johnson, who had worked with Rice before he was drafted, stated that he was upset with the situation as Rice should have known better. He mentioned that he had spent time with Rice during the draft process in Los Angeles and Dallas, trying to prepare him for the responsibilities that come with being a professional athlete. Johnson pointed out that Rice had some red flags coming into the draft, which may have contributed to him falling to the second round.
Johnson referenced the case of former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs, who was recently sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for a deadly drunk driving crash. He expressed his frustration with Rice for not learning from Ruggs’ situation and other cautionary tales in the NFL. Johnson emphasized that life as a professional athlete is different from college, and that players need to be mindful of their actions as they will not receive the same leniency they may have had in the past. While Johnson did not know if Rice was driving during the crash, he stated that he hoped someone had stolen his car. He stressed the seriousness of the situation and warned against reckless behavior like car racing.
Dallas police had been searching for Rice in connection with the crash, which left four people injured. State Sen. Royce West, who is representing Rice, later stated that Rice was cooperating with authorities and would take necessary steps to address the situation responsibly. Despite the seriousness of the incident, Johnson expressed his hope that Rice would learn from this experience and make better choices in the future. The discussion on Fox Sports’ “Undisputed” shed light on the consequences of irresponsible behavior among professional athletes and the importance of making wise decisions both on and off the field. Football players, especially those in the spotlight, are held to a high standard and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their stature.
