A second video showing how Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punched then fiancée Janay Palmer inside an elevator in Atlantic City in February has prompted the Ravens to terminate the NFL player's US$8 million contract.

Team management made the announcement after hours of intense pressure on the franchise and the NFL to give Rice a more suitable punishment for what he did to his now wife Ms. Palmer.

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In July, fans and the public were shocked and outraged when NFL officials decided to just suspend Rice for two games and fine him just over US$500,000.

After seeing the new video released by TMZ, the NFL changed its tune and suspended Rice indefinitely.

'We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator. That video was not made available to us and no one in our office has seen it until today,' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said on Monday morning.

The Ravens have said they had not seen the video until now. Senior vice president Kevin Byrne said the team had no comment aside from the action terminating Rice.

In previous video footage, Rice is shown seemingly unfazed as he dragged an unconscious Ms. Palmer out of the elevator at the Revel Hotel and Casino. The video was released days after the incident was reported in February.

In the new video taken from a security camera inside the elevator, Ray Rice is shown slapping his girlfriend, before she hits him back. Rice then throws a left-hand punch that knocks her down unconscious. She remains unconscious on the elevator floor for the next few seconds until the elevator opens to their floor. Rice then drags her out of the elevator.

Several of Rice's co-professionals have publicly commented on the video.

The Broncos' Terrance Knighton was one of the first to comment.

"That man should be thrown out of the NFL and thrown into jail. Shame on those deciding his punishment," he tweeted. "If there's anyway to open that case up and give this guy the punishment he deserves, it NEEDS to be done."

ESPN's Bill Simmons, one of the most influential sports writers in the U.S., labelled the Ravens "cowards" on Monday.

"Ravens have to waive Rice today or they are cowards. New video is appalling. I'd like to see someone in the NFL do the right thing for once," Simmons tweeted. 

Rice now becomes a free agent as soon as the paperwork is processed finalizing his termination. 

Tagsray rice, Janay Palmer, Baltimore Ravens