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Ray Rice wins appeal of his suspension, is able to play in NFL again Ray Rice wins appeal of his suspension, is eligible to play for any NFL team (updated)
(35 minutes later)
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice won his appeal Friday afternoon and has been reinstated into the NFL, according to multiple reports and the NFLPA. Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice won the appeal of his indefinite suspension by the NFL on Friday and is eligible to sign immediately with any NFL team.
Ray Rice has been reinstated by Judge Barbara Jones, source says. Appeal won. — Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 28, 2014 Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones heard Rice’s appeal earlier this month and handed down a decision that is independent of the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell. The league initially suspended Rice for two games in connection with a domestic incident in which he struck his then-fiancee in a casino elevator last winter. It extended that to an indefinite suspension and the Ravens cut him when video of him knocking out Janay Palmer, now his wife, was published Sept. 8 by TMZ.
Ray Rice has been reinstated by Judge Barbara Jones, source says. Appeal won. “I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisors, family, friends and fans — but most importantly, my wife Janay,” Rice said in a statement released by the NFL Players Association. “I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 28, 2014 “I am thankful that there was a proper appeals process in place to address this issue. I will continue working hard to improve myself and be the best husband, father and friend, while giving back to my community and helping others to learn from my mistakes.”
Per league source (and as expected), Ray Rice has won the appeal of his indefinite suspension. — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 28, 2014 Jones determined that Rice had not misled the NFL or Goodell when he interviewed him and Janay Rice in the spring, before the second video came out. Her decision is well-grounded, given that Rice was punished twice for the same violation of the personal-conduct policy.
Per league source (and as expected), Ray Rice has won the appeal of his indefinite suspension. “In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time. Because, after careful consideration of all of the evidence, I am not persuaded that Rice lied to, or misled, the NFL at his June interview, I find that the indefinite suspension was an abuse of discretion and must be vacated,” Jones wrote in the decision, which was obtained by ESPN.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 28, 2014 “I find that the NFLPA carried its burden of showing that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16th meeting, and therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident and the same known facts about the incident, was arbitrary,” Jones also wrote.
Source: Former #Ravens RB Ray Rice has won his appeal. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2014 “The Commissioner needed to be fair and consistent in his imposition of discipline.
Source: Former #Ravens RB Ray Rice has won his appeal. “Moreover, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of violence was not due to Rice’s description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey the seriousness of domestic violence. That the League did not realize the severity of the conduct without a visual record also speaks to their admitted failure in the past to sanction this type of conduct more severely.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2014 Janay Rice responded to the news in a tweet, expressing gratitude that Rice is free to play again in the NFL.
The news does not come as a surprise, as many believed the NFL punished him twice for the same violation, breaking rules established in the collective bargaining agreement. In July, the NFL levied a two-game suspension on the player for a domestic altercation with his then fiancee Janay Palmer in an Atlantic City elevator. But in September, the league decided to suspend Rice indefinitely after TMZ leaked video footage of the running back knocking out his now-wife in the elevator.
Palmer responded to the news in a tweet, expressing gratitude that Rice will be back in the NFL.
This week I have something to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my husband will be returning to the nfl #RayRice — Janay Rice (@JanayRice) November 28, 2014This week I have something to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my husband will be returning to the nfl #RayRice — Janay Rice (@JanayRice) November 28, 2014
This week I have something to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my husband will be returning to the nfl #RayRiceThis week I have something to be thankful for. I'm thankful that my husband will be returning to the nfl #RayRice
— Janay Rice (@JanayRice) November 28, 2014— Janay Rice (@JanayRice) November 28, 2014
The situation landed NFL in as much trouble publicly as it did Rice, with many questioning the seriousness with which the NFL takes domestic violence issues, or more generally, if it values its female audience.The situation landed NFL in as much trouble publicly as it did Rice, with many questioning the seriousness with which the NFL takes domestic violence issues, or more generally, if it values its female audience.
Rice will be able to immediately play for a team again, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but it’s unlikely any team will pick him up. It’s both very late in the season at this point, and Rice’s image is still tarnished. Uncertainty still surrounds Rice, though. Will a team sign him with the season about to enter the last month? Can Rice restore his image — both personally and professionally? And will he be compensated for the salary he lost while on indefinite suspension?
Ray Rice is immediately eligible, source says, by winning his appeal. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2014  
Ray Rice is immediately eligible, source says, by winning his appeal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 28, 2014
One legal analyst does not see the NFL appealing this decision and, according to ESPN’s Andrew Brandt, the NFL has said they accept the ruling as binding.
NFL can appeal Ray Rice arbitration decision to a court but odds of court taking it are extremely low. Courts respect arbitration decisions. — Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) November 28, 2014
NFL can appeal Ray Rice arbitration decision to a court but odds of court taking it are extremely low. Courts respect arbitration decisions.
— Michael McCann (@McCannSportsLaw) November 28, 2014
As to whether the NFL further pursues Ray Rice punishment, it will not. Am told by league, as to the ruling, "We accept it as binding." — Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) November 28, 2014
As to whether the NFL further pursues Ray Rice punishment, it will not. Am told by league, as to the ruling, "We accept it as binding."
— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) November 28, 2014