Ray Rice Expected to Appeal Indefinite Suspension from NFL

The union representing NFL players plans to appeal the indefinite suspension of former Ravens running back Ray Rice on his behalf, according to reports.

The NFL Players Association and a lawyer retained by Rice are expected to file the appeal Monday, on the grounds that the running back is being punished twice for the same offense, according to the NFL.

In July, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a two-game suspension for Rice’s violation of the league’s code of conduct in connection with a Feb. 15 assault that left his then-fiancée unconscious in Atlantic City. Rice and his fiancée married in March, the day after he was indicted on the third-degree assault charge.

Through the courts, Rice was enrolled in a pretrial intervention program in May that includes counseling and requires employment as a stipulation for participation. He served one game of his two-game suspension, sitting out the Ravens’ home opener agains the Cincinatti Bengals. His suspension was also to include the Sept. 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, on Sept. 8, Goodell changed Rice’s punishment to an indefinite suspension after TMZ released footage of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee inside an elevator at Atlantic City’s Revel Casino Hotel in February. Previously, the public saw video from the aftermath of the fight, in which Rice could be seen pulling Palmer, who appeared unconscious, from the elevator. The Ravens also terminated Rice’s contract in the wake of the second video’s release.

According to the collective bargaining agreement through the players’ union, the commissioner and a club “will not both discipline a player for the same act or conduct,” according to Forbes, which reports the matter at hand is not just that the Ravens and Goodell both disciplined Rice but also that Goodell changed his ruling.

Goodell said in a letter obtained by The Baltimore Sun that the TMZ video released Monday represented “new information” and “based on this new information, I have concluded that the discipline imposed upon you in July was insufficient under all the circumstances and have determined instead to impose an indefinite suspension.”

The deadline for appealing the suspension is 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, according to ESPN, which reported Rice has three days to file a grievance following receipt of the letter notifying him of the disciplinary action.

Goodell would have authority over the appeal; but the NFL Players Association and Rice may request that someone unaffiliated with the league preside as a hearing officer, NBC Sports reports.

Rice may hire a crisis management team to consult him during the process, The Baltimore Sun reported.

Separately, the NFL has ordered an investigation into how it handled the Rice case, which a former FBI director is conducting.

Related:

• NFL Taps Former FBI Director to Lead Investigation into Rice Case
• Ravens Terminate Rice’s Contract, NFL Suspends Him Indefinitely
• New Video of Ray Rice Shows What Happened Inside Elevator
• NFL Makes Decision on Rice Suspension
• Rice Admitted to Pre-Trial Intervention Program
• Ray Rice Pleads Not Guilty, Deal Pending
• Day After Ray Rice Indicted on Assault Charge, He Weds Fiancée
• Baltimore Ravens Running Back Ray Rice Faces New Criminal Charge
• Ray Rice Arrested in Atlantic City