OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome drafted Ray Rice in 2008, gave him $22 million in bonus money in 2012 and accompanied him to New York for his meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell three months ago.

So, where was Newsome when the Ravens released Rice on Monday? The person in charge of the team's personnel moves was not in front of reporters after the Ravens made their biggest move of the year.

Instead, coach John Harbaugh was the only team official who spoke about Rice. Harbaugh's job is to get the Ravens ready to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in a couple of days; it isn't to address a personnel move that made headlines across the nation.

Newsome was at Ravens headquarters Monday. He passed reporters when he was headed out to watch practice. For some reason, he didn't have 10 to 15 minutes to discuss the release of the second-leading rusher in franchise history.

According to Harbaugh, Newsome did talk to Rice after the team released him. He apparently didn't want to talk about a former second-round pick knocking a woman unconscious.

During a time like this, Newsome, owner Steve Bisciotti and president Dick Cass should have lined up in front of the media. At the very least, Newsome should have stepped forward. He hasn't talked to Baltimore reporters since the draft four months ago.

A popular saying within the organization and fan base is: "In Ozzie, we trust." It comes from Newsome making the right decisions at the right time. It wasn't true on Monday, when Newsome left his coach to face the media onslaught alone.