Ray Rice -- 'Tremendous Amount of Disappointment' ... Says Governor of Maryland

The Governor of Maryland tells TMZ Sports ... he feels a "tremendous amount of disappointment" in Baltimore Ravens superstar Ray Rice after learning about his domestic violence arrest.

Gov. Martin O'Malley -- a huge Ravens fan -- was walking through D.C. this weekend when we asked him for his thoughts on the situation ... and it's clear, Martin is pretty devastated.

"You know what, its ... I dont know that it has anything to do with being a fan or not being a fan," O'Malley said.

"You always feel a tremendous amount of disappointment whenever someone finds themselves in a situation involving this sort of domestic violence ... and the public attention to it only makes that pain magnified."

Watch the video ... O'Malley's disappointment is palpable.