Ravens run out of jerseys for fans exchanging Ray Rice gear

The Baltimore Ravens had to give out approximately 2,400 vouchers Saturday to fans exchanging Ray Rice jerseys when the club ran out of jerseys for other Ravens players.

The two-day exchange at M&T Bank Stadium drew about 7,000 fans and cost the club more than $100,000, according to Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne, who declined to give an exact amount spent by the team.

More than 5,500 fans were able to exchange Rice’s jersey for that of another Ravens player; the rest of the fans arriving Saturday afternoon were given vouchers to be redeemed on Oct. 25 when supplies are replenished.

Rice was released by the Ravens last week and given an indefinite suspension by the NFL after a new video surfaced showing him hitting his wife in an Atlantic City, N.J., casino elevator earlier this year when the two were engaged. Rice originally was given a two-game suspension and had assault charges dropped when he completed a diversion program as part of a plea deal.

“What [Rice] did wasn’t right, and I don’t want to wear a jersey of a player who acted like that,” said Zachary Blankenship, a 19-year-old college student who opted for a Justin Tuck jersey. “He was my favorite player. I could care less about him now.”

Hundreds of fans were unable to exchange Rice’s jersey because it wasn’t licensed by the NFL or it wasn’t available through the Ravens’ stadium or online shops.

Many fans were surprised at the turnout.

“I didn’t know there were that many Ray Rice fans,” said Bruce Supovitz, who had to settle for an Elvis Dumervil jersey, one of the few left in his size.