Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice said Monday that his criticism of Hines Ward's recent DUI arrest was prompted in part by the memory of his cousin, who was killed by a drunk driver in 1998.
Rice told *The Baltimore Sun* that he meant no disrespect to Ward when he tweeted last week that the Pittsburgh wide receiver's arrest was "not a good look" and predicted that he would be suspended for the Steelers' season opener against the Ravens.
"Drunk driving is one of those things that hits a soft spot in my life," said Rice, who has helped Maryland authorities set up sobriety checkpoints. "I don't care if you're a Pittsburgh Steeler or a Baltimore Raven or whoever you are, if you get caught drunk driving, that's not a smart judgment."
Rice added: "We make enough money. It's $150 for a car service for the rest of the night."
Rice's cousin, Myshaun Rice, was a 24-year-old father of two at the time of his death.
Police arrested Ward during a July 9 traffic stop outside Atlanta, when they say he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and failed field sobriety tests. He was pulled over after he left his lane and hit a curb in his Aston Martin, according to the police report.
Ward's manager released a statement following the arrest, refuting the claim that the four-time Pro Bowl receiver and 2011 "Dancing With the Stars" champion was impaired behind the wheel.
Ward, 35, is scheduled to appear Oct. 6 in DeKalb County State Court. He released a statement Friday, thanking fans for their support.
Ward didn't receive support from Rice, whose Twitter comments touched off a war of words between the AFC North rivals, with Steelers safety Ryan Clark tweeting, "Thought we were all better than that. Wouldn't speak negative of you."
"I didn't put it on Twitter to disrespect," Rice said Monday. "I just said, 'It's not a good look.' Their whole town knows it's not a good look. It doesn't matter what team you play for. When it comes across the ticker that you got arrested for a DUI, it's not a good look."
