AUGUST 15: The league proposed a suspension spanning double-digit games in this case, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (video link). The NFLPA and Rice’s representatives took issue with such a ban given the lack of precedent for suspensions of that length in situations such as his. Time still remains for a compromise to be worked out, but in the absence of one the wait for finding out the exact length of Rice’s absence will stretch well into the campaign.
AUGUST 14:Rashee Rice is expected to be suspended for a chunk of the 2025 season. The Chiefs wide receiver’s criminal discipline has been levied, and it had been assumed an NFL suspension would be handed out before the season.
Now, Kansas City could have its top wideout to open the year but be without him for much of the midseason stretch. An NFL disciplinary hearing is set for September 30; the wideout’s suspension length will almost definitely emerge in the wake of that summit. While Rice’s case is certainly different from Deshaun Watson‘s high-profile 2022 suspension saga, the hearing component is similar.
The NFL, NFLPA and Rice’s camp could not agree on discipline in this case, ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports, leading to the hearing. The Sept. 30 date stemmed from disciplinary officer Sue Robinson’s availability. Robinson’s availability potentially determining which games Rice is available for certainly represents an interesting wrinkle here. Based on the lack of agreement here, it can be assumed the NFL is intending to suspend Rice for a significant stretch.
Rice was hit with eight felony charges in connection with a March 2024 hit-and-run incident. His criminal case concluded last month with a sentence of five years probation and a 30-day prison term. Rice received deferred adjudication, so completing the probation process will close the case and allow him to avoid serving time in prison.
However, Rice also was accused of punching a photographer at a nightclub following that freeway street-racing incident. While Rice was at SMU, Rice or a member of his party fired gunshots into an empty vehicle belonging to a Mustangs basketball player. That was believed to have been on the table to be folded into an NFL investigation. Although the accuser in the nightclub assault matter declined to press charges, these two lower-profile incidents may impact his NFL suspension duration.
The Chiefs’ September slate consists of games against the Chargers, Eagles, Giants and Ravens. The six games following the hearing go: Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, Commanders, Bills and Broncos. While Rice stands to be available for the three-time reigning AFC champions’ early slate, his reemergence from an LCL tear would then be paused due to a ban. The sides could preempt a hearing by reaching a settlement beforehand, however. That is how the Watson matter produced an 11-game ban, as the NFL was aiming to have the Browns trade acquisition suspended for all of the 2022 season. A compromise stopped the offseason-overshadowing matter from dragging on even longer than it had. In her role with the NFL, Robinson has only heard the Watson case.
The Chiefs have seen a number of regulars run into off-field trouble during Andy Reid‘s time at the helm; only some produced suspensions. While Tyreek Hill‘s domestic violence arrest occurred while he was in college, a separate scandal led to a 2019 NFL investigation. A lack of cooperation by a Kansas district attorney’s office, however, helped keep the wideout from being suspended. The Chiefs also waived Kareem Hunt — who has since returned to the team — after video surfaced of him shoving and kicking a woman at a Cleveland hotel. Hunt’s eight-game ban came when he was with the Browns in 2019. The Chiefs, however, saw Frank Clark banned two games midway through the 2022 season in connection with two gun-related arrests. One of their post-Clark options, free agent signee Charles Omenihu, was suspended six games for a domestic violence arrest to open the ’23 season. Backup wideout Justyn Ross also landed on the commissioner’s exempt list in 2023 for a domestic battery incident.
If/when Rice is suspended, the Chiefs will — as they did last year during his injury hiatus — lean on Xavier Worthy. Marquise Brown is also positioned to be available this year, after he missed most of last season. Those two will be Kansas City’s primary receiving weapons alongside Travis Kelce. It will be interesting to see if Rice joins these pass-game principals in Week 1 or reaches a resolution to serve his ban to open the season.
6-8 games. Nonsense they don’t just levy the suspension rather than negotiating it.
If the NFL cared about the public he would be suspended the entire year – but they care only about TV/streaming earnings – thus he will get only 4 games.
Correct. The only thing they care about is revenue. That has been the story for the last 40 years.
Incorrect. It’s the NFL players union they have to fight through.
High altitude… Absolutely!
He will get 4 games, so that he will have 1 game to get ready for Detroit, Washington and buffalo. NFL going to make sure they make their money and keep the refs cheating for the chiefs
Better reason for the delay is he gets suspended for the easier midseason games to lessen the impact on the Chiefs. Concierge punishment.
The Bengals use to play criminals all the time under Marvin Lewis but unlike Reid and the Chiefs, they didnt win championships. If Rice doesnt learn from this suspension, he never will.
Football players are stupid man he’s not learning crap
It should be obvious to anyone that suspensions are completely worthless as a deterrent and serve no useful purpose. The only way to change that is to have suspensions negatively impact a team’s playoff chances. If that step were taken then teams would vet players much more vigorously and stay clear of the bad apples.
Are you proposing that — like baseball — suspended players become ineligible for the playoffs.
I was actually thinking that the NCAA can ban colleges with serious violations from participating in bowl games. A policy similar to that could be adopted by the NFL with regards to playoff games. As you suggested other options also exist. As it stands now, suspensions are little more than an irritant to teams and that needs to be corrected.
He can serve a 3 month suspension from April through June.
Anything more than six games is doing a disservice to Susan Gutweiler!
Oh, poor Susan, just trying to drive home late that night in her little Thunderbird. ;-(
Actually, I feel like she was driving to pick up her adopted son from a concert…?
It’s cost him his rookie contract in legal fees, settlements, etc……I think 5 games is fair, Go Chiefs
He pled guilty to 2 felonies. 10-12 games is more than good.
If you got yourself into legal troubles, you’d hope you could still have a job to go to so you could earn money to pay for everything
Ridiculous. You’re the commissioner, put down the suspension and let them appeal. Then deal with whatever the settlement is. Get this over with.
How is it that everyone else gets suspensions and fines levied but Rice gets to negotiate?
If the NFL was smart, they would give him a suspension now, let him appeal while he plays the Ravens and eagles or whatever the first few games are, then he serves a shortened suspension during the season and now he’s ready for the playoffs. NFL never going to beat the Chief favoritism allegations
The appeal process doesn’t take that long. I think once they told the Chiefs what was coming, both sides probably thought a negotiated process might be easier. That way the union doesn’t get involved at draw it out longer than it needs to be. Get it done and over with and move on. I think he will still get at least 8-10 games. 2 felonies aren’t something to scoff at.
First 4 games are the toughest part of their schedule. Figures any suspension would be after those. Chiefs fatigue