The Baltimore Ravens are offering fans a chance to exchange their #27 Ray Rice football jerseys for another Ravens player’s jersey now that Rice has been cut as a result of a violent video release by TMZ on Monday.
The video showed the running back assault his then fiancée Janay Palmer in an elevator with a vicious punch to the head rendering her unconscious. Rice had been under a two-game NFL suspension prior to the release of the video.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the jersey exchanges are set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 at M&T Bank Stadium. The exchange program includes only those jerseys officially licensed by the NFL, manufactured by Nike or Reebok, and available for purchase at the Ravens’ team store at the stadium or on their online stores. The exchange limits one jersey per person, notes the Sun.
According to Bleacher Report, some restaurants in Baltimore offer special fan deals to trade in Rice jerseys as well.
Last year after Aaron Hernandez encountered legal problems, the New England Patriots initiated a jersey exchange for fans to trade in his #81 jersey for another Patriot jersey. Hernandez faces multiple charges including two charges of first degree murder.
CBS Sports reported that the Patriots lost $250,000 in the Hernandez jersey swap.
Two Baltimore restaurants are also offering free pizza and drinks in exchange for Rice’s jersey.