( CNN ) -- A song featuring pop star Rihanna was dropped this week from the `` Thursday Night Football '' pregame show to make time for discussion of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident , a spokesman for the NFL Network said . Alex Riethmiller said the 2009 Jay Z song `` Run This Town , '' which features Rihanna , will return to the broadcast next week . The chairman of CBS Sports , which will simulcast the game , told Sports Illustrated that the broadcasters were n't overreacting to the scandal over the NFL 's reaction to the Rice incident . `` We thought ... we needed to have the appropriate tone and coverage , '' Sean McManus said . `` A lot of the production elements we wanted in the show are being eliminated because of time or tone . '' Timeline of key events in the Ray Rice story . Rihanna was the victim of domestic violence in February 2009 when she was assaulted by her then-boyfriend , Chris Brown . Some critics questioned the appropriateness of the song being a part of the telecast for a game involving the Baltimore Ravens . Opinion : Why does she stay ? That 's the wrong question . The Ravens on Monday cut Rice after video of the running back punching his now-wife was posted by the website TMZ Sports . After beating Rihanna with his fists , Brown entered a guilty plea to one felony count of assault and was sentenced to probation , counseling and community service . Rice was admitted into a pretrial intervention program in New Jersey that involves counseling . If he successfully completes one year in the program , the felony charge of assault will be wiped from his record . Jay Z won two Grammy Awards for `` Run This Town . '' Besides featuring Rihanna 's singing , the original song also includes rapper Kanye West . Goodell : NFL could n't legally get Ray Rice videos . The Ray Rice elevator tape : What did the NFL know ? CNN 's Brian Stelter and Yon Pomrenze contributed to this report .
Rihanna was the victim of domestic violence in 2009 at the hands of Chris Brown . The singer has been accused by a former bodyguard and his girlfriend of punching him during an argument over Rihanna’s alleged infidelity. CBS chief tells Sports Illustrated the network wanted to have the correct tone . The song will be included in the intro during the rest of the season , a spokesman says .