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Ray Rice wins appeal of NFL’s indefinite suspension, is eligible to play immediately Ray Rice wins appeal of NFL’s indefinite suspension, is eligible to play immediately
(34 minutes later)
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice prevailed Friday in his appeal of his indefinite suspension by the National Football League for a highly publicized domestic violence incident and is eligible to return to the field.Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice prevailed Friday in his appeal of his indefinite suspension by the National Football League for a highly publicized domestic violence incident and is eligible to return to the field.
The ruling was viewed by players’ representatives and some league observers as a repudiation of one of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s most high-profile recent efforts to assert his authority in the area of player discipline, which had come under harsh criticism fans and media members and considerable pressure from sponsors.The ruling was viewed by players’ representatives and some league observers as a repudiation of one of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s most high-profile recent efforts to assert his authority in the area of player discipline, which had come under harsh criticism fans and media members and considerable pressure from sponsors.
It does not, however, signal an immediate return to the playing field for Rice. Some within the league expressed skepticism that any team will sign Rice to a contract during what remains of the season.It does not, however, signal an immediate return to the playing field for Rice. Some within the league expressed skepticism that any team will sign Rice to a contract during what remains of the season.
Barbara S. Jones, the former federal judge appointed by the league to hear and resolve the appeal, ruled Goodell overstepped his authority by disciplining Rice for a second time in September after originally suspending him for only two games for the incident.Barbara S. Jones, the former federal judge appointed by the league to hear and resolve the appeal, ruled Goodell overstepped his authority by disciplining Rice for a second time in September after originally suspending him for only two games for the incident.
Jones wrote that 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 that 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.”
Rice, in a written statement issued through the NFL Players Association, expressed gratitude to his representatives, family, friends, fans and wife.Rice, in a written statement issued through the NFL Players Association, expressed gratitude to his representatives, family, friends, fans and wife.
“I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions,” Rice said in the union-issued statement. “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.”“I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions,” Rice said in the union-issued statement. “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.”
The NFL announced it respects Jones’s ruling and will abide by it, making Rice eligible to play for any team that might sign him.The NFL announced it respects Jones’s ruling and will abide by it, making Rice eligible to play for any team that might sign him.
The Ravens cut ties to him in September on the same day the league imposed its indefinite suspension, hours after the online celebrity news site TMZ released videotape taken inside an Atlantic City hotel elevator in February showing Rice striking Janay Palmer, then his fiancee and now his wife.The Ravens cut ties to him in September on the same day the league imposed its indefinite suspension, hours after the online celebrity news site TMZ released videotape taken inside an Atlantic City hotel elevator in February showing Rice striking Janay Palmer, then his fiancee and now his wife.
Only four weeks remain in the NFL’s regular season after this weekend’s games. There was some speculation Friday that the Indianapolis Colts might have a need for Rice. The Colts are a division-leading team likely to be in the playoffs. They have a running game in need of help and they are coached by a former Ravens assistant, Chuck Pagano.Only four weeks remain in the NFL’s regular season after this weekend’s games. There was some speculation Friday that the Indianapolis Colts might have a need for Rice. The Colts are a division-leading team likely to be in the playoffs. They have a running game in need of help and they are coached by a former Ravens assistant, Chuck Pagano.
But several people within the sport said in recent days they continue to regard it as a long shot that Rice will be signed by a team this season.But several people within the sport said in recent days they continue to regard it as a long shot that Rice will be signed by a team this season.
“You never say never, but I have a hard time seeing it,” a front office executive with one NFL team said this week, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized by his franchise to comment publicly on the matter. “Would your fans accept it? Would your owner allow it? There are a lot of considerations to it and there’s not much time left in the season for him to come in and help you on the field, even if you believe he’s capable of that.”“You never say never, but I have a hard time seeing it,” a front office executive with one NFL team said this week, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized by his franchise to comment publicly on the matter. “Would your fans accept it? Would your owner allow it? There are a lot of considerations to it and there’s not much time left in the season for him to come in and help you on the field, even if you believe he’s capable of that.”
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft predicted in a televised interview in September that Rice never would play again in the league.New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft predicted in a televised interview in September that Rice never would play again in the league.
“I don’t think he’ll play another NFL game,” Kraft told CBS then. “I’ll be shocked if some team would pick him up.”“I don’t think he’ll play another NFL game,” Kraft told CBS then. “I’ll be shocked if some team would pick him up.”
The ruling was widely expected within the sport to go in favor of Rice and the players’ union, which appealed the indefinite suspension on Rice’s behalf. Even so, it was viewed by some in the industry Friday as a sorely needed victory for the players’ side.The ruling was widely expected within the sport to go in favor of Rice and the players’ union, which appealed the indefinite suspension on Rice’s behalf. Even so, it was viewed by some in the industry Friday as a sorely needed victory for the players’ side.
“Glad to see the commissioner over stepped his bounds with Rice suspension [and] it’s been overturned[.] Players needed that win in a bad way,” agent David Canter wrote on Twitter.“Glad to see the commissioner over stepped his bounds with Rice suspension [and] it’s been overturned[.] Players needed that win in a bad way,” agent David Canter wrote on Twitter.
Janay Rice, who gave her account of the incident and her relationship with her husband in a lengthy first-person article posted on ESPN.com shortly after news of the ruling was issued, said via Twitter that she is “thankful that my husband will be returning” to the NFL.Janay Rice, who gave her account of the incident and her relationship with her husband in a lengthy first-person article posted on ESPN.com shortly after news of the ruling was issued, said via Twitter that she is “thankful that my husband will be returning” to the NFL.
The decision on Rice’s appeal of his suspension comes after an arbitrator ruled in a separate case that the NFL could keep Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on what amounts to paid leave while he appeals his suspension without pay by the league. The NFL suspended Peterson for at least the remainder of this season after he reached a plea deal in a case stemming from him disciplining his 4-year-old son by striking the child with a switch. The league said it will not consider Peterson’s reinstatement before April 15.The decision on Rice’s appeal of his suspension comes after an arbitrator ruled in a separate case that the NFL could keep Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson on what amounts to paid leave while he appeals his suspension without pay by the league. The NFL suspended Peterson for at least the remainder of this season after he reached a plea deal in a case stemming from him disciplining his 4-year-old son by striking the child with a switch. The league said it will not consider Peterson’s reinstatement before April 15.
Peterson’s appeal of his suspension is to be heard Tuesday by Harold Henderson, a former labor executive for the league. Goodell appointed Henderson to hear and resolve Peterson’s appeal. The union, after applauding the league for allowing Jones to hear Rice’s appeal, has said it does not regard Henderson as a neutral arbitrator.Peterson’s appeal of his suspension is to be heard Tuesday by Harold Henderson, a former labor executive for the league. Goodell appointed Henderson to hear and resolve Peterson’s appeal. The union, after applauding the league for allowing Jones to hear Rice’s appeal, has said it does not regard Henderson as a neutral arbitrator.
Of the Rice ruling, the union said in a written statement: “This decision is a victory for a disciplinary process that is fair and transparent. This union will always stand up and fight for the due process rights of our players. While we take no pleasure in seeing a decision that confirms what we have been saying about the Commissioner’s office acting arbitrarily, we hope that this will bring the NFL owners to the collective bargaining table to fix a broken process. It is clear that this decision should force the NFL to embrace neutral arbitration as part of a necessary due process in all cases. The players thank Judge Barbara Jones for her time and thoroughness in this matter.”Of the Rice ruling, the union said in a written statement: “This decision is a victory for a disciplinary process that is fair and transparent. This union will always stand up and fight for the due process rights of our players. While we take no pleasure in seeing a decision that confirms what we have been saying about the Commissioner’s office acting arbitrarily, we hope that this will bring the NFL owners to the collective bargaining table to fix a broken process. It is clear that this decision should force the NFL to embrace neutral arbitration as part of a necessary due process in all cases. The players thank Judge Barbara Jones for her time and thoroughness in this matter.”
The union argued in its appeal of Rice’s suspension that Rice was being improperly punished twice for the same incident. In July, the NFL suspended Rice for the first two games of the season without pay and fined him an additional game check.The union argued in its appeal of Rice’s suspension that Rice was being improperly punished twice for the same incident. In July, the NFL suspended Rice for the first two games of the season without pay and fined him an additional game check.
The NFL argued that the Sept. 8 release of the footage from inside the elevator represented new evidence in the case and showed a different sequence of events than what Rice and his representatives portrayed to Goodell during a mid-June meeting. Previous video had been released publicly but it was taken from outside the elevator.The NFL argued that the Sept. 8 release of the footage from inside the elevator represented new evidence in the case and showed a different sequence of events than what Rice and his representatives portrayed to Goodell during a mid-June meeting. Previous video had been released publicly but it was taken from outside the elevator.
Jones wrote in her decision that “the NFLPA has carried its burden of demonstrating that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16 meeting and, therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident, and the same known facts about that incident, was arbitrary.”Jones wrote in her decision that “the NFLPA has carried its burden of demonstrating that Rice did not mislead the Commissioner at the June 16 meeting and, therefore, that the imposition of a second suspension based on the same incident, and the same known facts about that incident, was arbitrary.”
She also wrote that “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.”She also wrote that “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.”
The NFL issued a written statement Friday that said: “We respect Judge Jones’s decision to reinstate Ray Rice from his indefinite suspension for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy in an incident of domestic violence. Ray Rice is a free agent and has been eligible to be signed by an NFL team since he was released by the Ravens. Based on Judge Jones’ decision, he will be eligible to play upon signing a new contract.”The NFL issued a written statement Friday that said: “We respect Judge Jones’s decision to reinstate Ray Rice from his indefinite suspension for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy in an incident of domestic violence. Ray Rice is a free agent and has been eligible to be signed by an NFL team since he was released by the Ravens. Based on Judge Jones’ decision, he will be eligible to play upon signing a new contract.”
The league has appointed former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III to investigate its handling of the Rice case. His report is pending. Goodell and the league also have been working to revise the sport’s personal conduct policy. Rice has a separate grievance pending against the Ravens for wrongful termination.The league has appointed former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III to investigate its handling of the Rice case. His report is pending. Goodell and the league also have been working to revise the sport’s personal conduct policy. Rice has a separate grievance pending against the Ravens for wrongful termination.
  The NFL said in a later statement that Jones’s ruling “underscores the urgency of our work to develop and implement a clear, fair and comprehensive new personal conduct policy. We expect this policy to be completed and announced in the weeks ahead. Our focus is on consistently enforcing an improved policy going forward.”