TMZ found Rice after the incident and
asked him about it, to which he said that he took the question as a shot against his former team, the
San Francisco 49ers, who the Chiefs defeated in last season's Super Bowl. According to Rice, the men had "smirks on their faces" indicating that they were trying to get a reaction out of him.
Though it's difficult to hear everything that was said in the video, Rice's account of the confrontation doesn't dispute what the reporters said. While speaking to the spectator, one of the reporters suggested that Rice may have been intoxicated. That obviously can't be verified. So it's a "he said, he said" scenario, in which each side has their own version of events.
In
a statement posted to social media, Starcade Media insisted they meant no disrespect to Rice and were not trying to provoke Rice. Nor were there any "smirks," as perceived.
Perhaps Rice's feelings on the Chiefs' receivers will be revisited later on in a different setting.