Rashee Rice believes he’s on a better path.
The Chiefs receiver broke his silence about his chaotic offseason and the multiple legal issues he’s facing.
“I’ve learned so much from that,” Rice told reporters on Saturday while attending a youth football camp with his Chiefs teammates. “All I can do is mature and continue to grow from that. This is a step in a better direction for me.”
Rice, 24, was involved in a multi-car crash in March while allegedly racing his friend on a highway in Dallas, and was later arrested.
Rice was driving his Lamborghini Urus 119 mph 4.5 seconds before the crash occurred, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the Dallas Morning News.
He then fled the scene after the crash, and is facing eight felony charges — one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury.
Two people who claim they were injured in the crash are also suing Rice for $10 million in damages.
In a separate incident, Rice is a suspect for an alleged assault at a Dallas nightclub in May.
Rice is accused of hitting a photographer at the nightclub.
“Accidents and stuff like that happen, but all you can do is move forward and walk around being the same person,” Rice said. “Try to be positive so that everybody can feel your love and your great energy.”
The Chiefs drafted Rice in the second round last year, and he enjoyed a strong rookie season.
He recorded 79 receptions, 938 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in the regular season before playing a pivotal role during the Chiefs’ playoff run and Super Bowl title.
He’s recently been attending Chiefs OTAs.
“As far as Rashee Rice goes, his situation, I’m leaving that like we’ve done most of these: just for the law enforcement part of it to take place,” head coach Andy Reid said in April. “We will go from there with that. So you can hold your [questions]. I have had an opportunity to talk to Rashee. I’m not going to obviously get into that, but that part has been gone through.”