Baltimore Ravens: We thought Ray Rice only slapped his fiancée

The Baltimore Ravens on Monday categorically denied a bombshell ESPN report that accused the team and the NFL of engaging in a deliberate campaign of "misinformation and misdirection" in their handling of Ray Rice's domestic abuse case.

In the most pointed accusation, ESPN reported that the Ravens knew "within hours" of Rice's arrest that he had punched his then-fiancée (they've since wed) in the face because a team official was given a detailed description of security camera footage showing the altercation. The Ravens denial on that front is twofold: First, the team claims the official, Darren Sanders, didn't hear a description of the tape within hours, but rather within a few days. And second, the team claims Sanders heard the assault described as a slap, not a punch.

From a team statement:

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In a press conference, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti suggested ESPN's sources were Rice's attorney, agent, and friends, and that were trying to smear the team to get Rice reinstated in the league.

"Nobody's losing a job here," he said.