Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is eyeing a comeback, but he knows he needs to regain public trust first and prove that he is different from the man who committed the gravest mistake of his life.

In September, Rice was indefinitely suspended by the National Football League due to a domestic violence case caught on video against his then fiancee, Janay, now his wife, while inside an elevator at a casino in Atlantic City, CNN reported. His suspension was lifted by former U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones in November.

However, until now, the three-time Pro-Bowler remains an unsigned free agent as every team will have to face the consequences of enlisting someone who has a domestic violence history. The controversial footage of the act was widely publicized.

Even CNN's Rachel Nichols commented that it might take a while before fans of the sport see Rice on the field again.

"If a team wanted to sign him and put him on the field that could happen but we're not expecting that to occur any time soon. If you're a team that needs a running back, are you going to sign Ray Rice knowing the backlash against him, knowing how people in the public feel about it?" Nichols said.

'Domestic violence is real'

The former running back told "Outside The Lines" that he also understands why NFL teams are hesitant to sign him, echoing Nichols' statements.

"We do live in a society where public opinion matters, and I totally respect that, domestic violence is real. It happens every 12 seconds as we speak... I think that that issue alone with me in my situation, having the video - that puts a lot in perspective. That vivid memory, obviously, that was the worst decision I've ever made in my life," Rice said in his interview, as quoted by ESPN.

The 28-year-old NFL free agent also desires to gain the public's trust, which was tainted because of the graphic video.

"I can understand some people probably never will forgive my actions. But I think that every step that I took going forward right now - over time, I want to be able to rewrite the script, to tell my daughter that daddy made the worst decision of his life, but this is what I did going forward," Rice said.

League insiders' statements

Rice's return to the sport is a big question mark, as one club member told Sport Illustrated that each time an NFL player "gets in trouble for domestic violence" it becomes more difficult for Rice to be signed.

Houston Texans owner Robert Mcnair owner isn't considering his services even if running back Arian Foster is suffering from a groin injury, leaving him to miss games in the upcoming season, sources told Ultimate Texans.

Related