Ray Rice

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Ray Rice was let go by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after a video was released showing the running back striking his then-fiancee in February.

The grainy video, released by TMZ Sports, shows Rice and Janay Palmer in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. Each hits the other before Rice knocks Palmer off her feet and into a railing. Months ago, a TMZ video showed Rice dragging Palmer, now his wife, from the elevator at the Revel casino, which closed Sept. 2.

Earlier Monday, the Ravens said they never saw the new video. Hours later, they sent out a one-sentence release:

''The Baltimore Ravens terminated the contract of RB Ray Rice this afternoon.''

Coach John Harbaugh said he met with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome after they saw the video, and they made the decision to let Rice go.

''It's something we saw for the first time today, all of us,'' Harbaugh said. ''It changed things, of course. It made things a little bit different.''

After Goodell drew criticism not being tough enough on Rice, in a letter to all 32 NFL owners in August he wrote, ''My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values.''

''I didn't get it right,'' he added. ''Simply put, we have to do better. And we will.''

First-time offenders now face a six-game suspension.

Rice began his suspension Sunday, when the Ravens opened their season with a 23-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was scheduled to return after Thursday night's game against Pittsburgh.

He leaves the Ravens as the second-leading rusher in franchise history, behind only Jamal Lewis. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Rice is the team's career leader in total yards from scrimmage (9,214) and is the only player in Ravens history to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.

*** [12/19/14]

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. >> A video released Friday shows Ray Rice's then-fiancee crying and kissing him while they are both handcuffed and being taken to jail by police officers after Rice punched her in a casino elevator.

The video was obtained by ABC News through a public records request filed with the New Jersey Gaming Enforcement Division. Rice's attorney fought to keep the video from being released but lost.

The video shows Janay Palmer-- now married to the former Baltimore Ravens running back -- crying and being comforted by officers or security officials at the Revel casino early on the morning of Feb. 15.

An officer walked a handcuffed Rice toward an elevator, pulling Rice's sweatshirt hood over his head. Palmer, also handcuffed, appeared to be crying as another officer led her behind Rice.

Both of them were placed in an elevator with several officers. Rice and Palmer moved their heads together as if they were talking. Palmer leaned in and appeared to kiss Rice before they are escorted out of the elevator.