Rashee Rice may sidestep harsher punishment if NFL follows precedent

In 2022, Brandin Echols was driving 84mph on a highway close to the New York Jets' practice facility when he crashed into a man named Stephen Gilberg, forcing his BMW off the road and into a marsh. The accident left him "partially paralyzed", per reports, with broken ribs and a long road of surgery and physical therapy ahead.

For his part, Echols was driving recklessly but not under the influence of any substance. He faced several charges for the incident and also was in line to receive a suspension from the National Football League for his behavior.

The result was a single-game suspension for the 2023 season.

This scenario might or might not be relevant for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025, because Rashee Rice was sentenced on Thursday, over one year following his initial arrest on 8 various counts related to a multi-vehicle accident caused by Rice and a friend driving at high speeds on a Dallas highway.

Rice's legal punishment came down to 5 years of probation and 30 days of jail time, but the NFL still has yet to decide how they will come down on Rice, if at all. Per NFL reporter Mark Maske, fans might be waiting for the league's ruling since the outcome is "not close to final."

The assumption, at least on social media, is that Rice could be facing a multiple-game suspension. Some guesses have placed the number as high as 6 or even 8 games. But perhaps that's not the case when looking at similar circumstances.

Every situation is different, of course, and all of this is conjecture. But looking at Echols' suspension from a couple of years ago, it seems like Rice might have a lighter suspension than expected.

Take the example of Sam Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. In 2023, he was suspended for three games for charges involving reckless driving. However, he was also in possession of both marijuana and an unlawful weapon. Such factors could be seen as even more extreme than Rice's case, and yet Williams only forfeited three weeks' worth of salary.

Before that, in 2021, former L.A. Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson was suspended one game due to a reckless driving charge. Former Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis never received a suspension despite getting in trouble twice for reckless driving.

Again, there's no way to know how the powers-that-be might rule in this case, but there is at least some precedent set here to believe that Rice might not miss as much time as some fans or analysts might expect. Only time will tell, but perhaps Rice will be around more than originally thought in 2025.