A number of Kansas City Chiefs players — including star tight end Travis Kelce — were seen wearing shirts that read “Free 4” with photos of Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice before their week 2 20-17 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles over the weekend. At first, this might seem like a simple call-out of the NFL for punishing a player who did something innocuous like smoking weed or celebrating in a non-approved way. However, when you learn what Rice actually did, things get a lot grimmer.
The 2023 second-round pick was street racing his rental 2020 Lamborghini Urus against a C8 Corvette — being driven by his former college teammate — at 119 mph when he slammed into several other vehicles on a Texas highway over Easter weekend in 2024. Instead of rendering aid, Rice decided it would be best to flee the scene on foot, according to TMZ.
To date, a six-game suspension by the NFL is the biggest punishment Rice has faced. One of the lawyers who is representing someone injured in the crash told TMZ that Rice has yet to pay “a single cent” of the $1.1 million judgment he owes his client.
Rice was arrested and charged over the crash in July, pleading guilty to two felonies, according to KCTV5. His guilty plea was for a collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway, causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and 30 days in jail that he can serve whenever he feels like it, as long as it’s during those five years. Later in the summer, he accepted the NFL’s six-game suspension for his actions.
Rice won’t be eligible to play again until October 19, when the Chiefs host the Raiders.
Coach Andy Reid can’t see a problem
Longtime Chiefs coach Andy Reid didn’t see an issue with the choices made by his players, calling it a simple show of affection for their teammate and not a statement against the NFL.
Here’s what Reid told ESPN Wichita 92.3, according to CBS Sports:
“I’ve seen it since. I didn’t see it then,” Reid said, via ESPN Wichita 92.3. “But I would tell you, I know these guys love Rashee and they feel for him sitting out here. And so I think it’s no more than that. I just think that those guys, they love the kid and want him to feel part of it in their own way. I really don’t think it’s anything more than that.”
Reid does have some insight when it comes to bad decisions behind the wheel. Last year, Missouri Governor Mike Parson commuted the prison sentence of his son, Britt Reid, USA Today reports. He was convicted in a 2021 drunk driving incident that left a girl with severe brain damage, and sentenced in November of 2022 to spend three years in prison. The coach’s son ended up serving less than half that time.
