HOUSTON – Newly released video showing former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his wife inside an Atlantic City elevator is bringing up painful memories for two Houstonians with ties to the city's past and present football scene.
Felicia Moon says for years no one knew the pain she says she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Houston Oilers star Warren Moon.
I know what it's like to fight for my marriage despite the horrible mistakes my husband may have made i know what it's like to think well maybe this is that one thing that's going to change him," Moon said.
Her private suffering eventually went public. Prosecutors charged Moon with scratching, hitting and choking Felicia and tried him for spousal abuse in 1996. A jury acquitted him of the charges.
"I've been there before, I've experienced the media at your door I've experienced being the subject of conversations of radio and television and it's a difficult place for her right now it's a difficult situation."
Janay Rice posted a statement Tuesday on Instagram defending her husband and calling the situation a "nightmare".
"She said nobody understands what I'm going through and yes we do. I know I do. But what that told me is that she feels very alone right now," Moon told Local 2.
"We can't tell her when is the right time to leave and we can't tell her to stay," Moon added. "If I could I would love to get to her and let her know that you're going to be okay, you can get through this but it's going to take some work and it's going to take some time."
Houston Texans running back Arian Foster also spoke out about his own experience saying in a series of tweets, "I grew up in a domestically violent household. I know first hand what this is all about. Saw it my entire childhood. I wish that family love."