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Former Baltimore Ravens, Ray Rice (pictured), whose infamous elevator rage resulted in him knocking out cold his then-fiancee and current wife, Janay, now claims the beatdown was all due to the hard liquor he had been consuming, according to TMZ.

RELATED: Ray Rice Speaks Out For The First Time Since Wife Beating Video

The video, which TMZ released earlier this week, has been media fodder since it was leaked. The footage depicts Rice and Janay apparently having a heated discussion at an Atlantic City hotel last February. When the couple waits for an elevator and it arrives, Rice and Janay are seen continuing their heated discussion that ends with the NFL player punching his loved one at least twice, causing her to crumple to the floor. Before her brutal fall, though, Janay is seen striking her head on the elevator handrail. As Janay lies on the elevator floor, face down, Rice then drags Janay partially out of the elevator like a rag doll, looking devoid of any concern or emotion.

Rice reportedly told his now-former NFL team that he and Janay had been drinking heavily before the incident. The once-stellar player, who was fired from his team and lost major endorsements over the domestic abuse incident, has now reportedly sworn off hard liquor. Sources allegedly told TMZ that Rice still indulges in the lesser of two evils: wine.

Since news of the battery broke, the Rices have reportedly surrendered their souls to Jesus, with each getting baptized and becoming born-again Christians as of March.  The pair is also reportedly mentoring other couples, particularly other NFLers, about the Bible.

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