Andy Reid spoke to local Kansas City media on Monday, making his first public comments about Rashee Rice's ongoing legal saga. Rice faces eight criminal charges following his involvement in a six-vehicle crash in Dallas on March 30th, and this is the first time we've heard from his head coach.
While some have argued that Rice should be cut from the team, which I disagree with, Reid insisted that the Chiefs are letting the legal process play out before making a decision on potential punishment.
The three-time Super Bowl champion coach declined to answer further questions about Rice but told reporters the two have already spoken about the matter.
Chiefs News: Andy Reid Gives Update on Rashee Rice
Andy Reid says the #Chiefs are letting the "law enforcement part take place" and then they "will go from there" when it comes to WR Rashee Rice.
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) April 15, 2024
Reid has talked to Rice, won't take questions on him as the team begins OTAs.
There is still a significant amount of information that we do not have, and the NFL is actively monitoring the situation as well.
Reid continued that Rice will participate in "Phase One" of the Chiefs' offseason program via Zoom, as will every other member of the roster. He noted that further involvement in OTAs partially depends on the legal process, as much is unclear about what will happen moving forward.
Rice quickly became a focal point of the offense with a breakout rookie campaign, helping the Chiefs win a second straight Lombardi Trophy. As the organization tries to become the first in NFL history to three-peat, Rice was expected to be a big part of that journey.
Whether or not he still is part of the plans isn't certain, though I anticipate he'll face some sort of suspension before rejoining the team.
We'll continue to update you with new information as it becomes available throughout this developing story.
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