Pacers star Paul George apologizes for tweets on Ray Rice, saying 'intent was not to downplay'

FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2014, file photo, Indiana Pacers' Paul George responds to a question during a news conference in Indianapolis. Paul George defended Ray Rice on Twitter, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, then backtracked less than an hour later by deleting the posts and apologizing to women and victims of domestic violence. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (The Associated Press)

INDIANAPOLIS – NBA star Paul George defended Ray Rice on Twitter, then backtracked less than an hour later by deleting the posts and apologizing to women and victims of domestic violence.

The Indiana Pacers player said Thursday that Rice should be allowed to play in the NFL. He wrote: If "a woman hit you first and attacking YOU.. Then you obviously ain't beatin HER."

George later deleted those posts and wrote a new one that read in part: "My intent was not to downplay the situation."

Rice was released by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after an elevator video showed Rice knocking out his then-fiancee with a punch to the face. The two are now married.