NFL Hands Down Punishment for Ravens RB Ray Rice

The NFL has suspended Ravens running back Ray Rice for the first two games of the season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Rice will also face a $58,000 fine on top of the suspension, which is unpaid. Additional counseling will be requested by the NFL, and any further off the field issues may result in stricter penalties.

The Ravens first two games of the season are against division rivals , the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburg Steelers.

Rice is eligible to be reinstated the Friday after the Thursday night game against the Steelers in week 2.

The suspension is set to cost Rice over $450,000 in game day checks per his regular season salary.

Rice allegedly struck his fiancé while in a casino elevator, knocking her unconscious. The star running back pleaded not guilty to a third degree charge of aggravated assault and agreed to a pretrial intervention program.

This is the Pro Bowler's first offense, and the typical league mandated punishment is a month or less.

Information courtesy of ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jamison Hensley.