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Ray Rice Appeals Suspension

September 16th, 2014 at 8:02pm CST by Rob DiRe

TUESDAY, 8:02pm: Rice has filed an appeal of his suspension, a source tells Albert Breer of the NFL Network (on Twitter).

Breer (link) passes along the NFLPA’s statement on the appeal:

“Today, the NFL Players Association formally filed an appeal of the indefinite suspension of Ray Rice by the NFL. This action taken by our union is to protect the due process rights of all NFL players. The NFLPA appeal is based on supporting facts that reveal a lack of a fair and impartial process, including the role of the office of the Commissioner of the NFL. We have asked that a neutral and jointly selected arbitrator hear this case as the Commissioner and his staff will be essential witnesses in the proceeding and thus cannot serve as impartial arbitrators.”

A hearing date has to be determined within the next ten days, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Both sides concur that Ray Rice remains suspended indefinitely while his case is being appealed, sources tell ESPN’s Ed Werder (Twitter).

MONDAY, 9:36pm: Rice was expected to officially appeal his indefinite suspension today, but that appeal will be delayed until at least Tuesday, reports Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Part of the reason for the delay is to give more time for Rice’s representatives to craft a request for Commissioner Goodell to recuse himself from the case.

SUNDAY, 9:42pm: The NFLPA will fight on behalf of Rice in part because of the precedent it will set for players going forward on the matter of due process, reports Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter).

For Rice, a major argument in his defense will be using the “one punishment” article of the collective bargaining agreement, according to Wilson (via Twitter).

6:42 P.M.: Former Ravens’ running back Ray Rice will appeal his indefinite suspension from the NFL, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Rice was suspended following the emergence of video evidence in the domestic violence incident in which he physically assaulted his now-wife in an elevator at an Atlantic City casino.

The Ravens had released the Pro Bowl running back prior to his suspension.

Rice is expected to officially appeal on Monday, according to league sources. Florio reports that the NFLPA will handle the case in conjunction with Rice’s lawyer.

Roger Goodell will play a key role in the appeal process. Rice was suspended under the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, which leaves the commissioner as the final authority over all appeals. Florio expects that Rice’s representatives will ask that Goodell remove himself from the proceedings. This move would not be unprecedented, as Goodell removed himself from the Saints case during the bounty investigation.

Even if this scenario plays out, Goodell and the NFL office would be likely to testify as witnesses, writes Florio. A key component of the case will be whether or not Rice lied about what happened inside the elevator before the video evidence was made public.

Extra Points: Giants, Patriots, Hardy, Rice

September 12th, 2014 at 8:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Steve Weatherford was out punting during the portion of Giants practice that was open to the media on Friday, writes Brian Lewis of the New York Post. The veteran had suffered a high left ankle sprain during Big Blue’s 35-14 Monday Night season-opening loss in Detroit and said that he wanted to test things out on Friday. He’s still listed as questionable, but today’s session is probably a good sign.

Nonetheless, the Giants seem to be preparing a backup plan just in case Weatherford is unable to go on Sunday. Per Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the team has worked out punters Zoltan Mesko, Brian Moorman, and Kasey Redfern.

  • The Patriots worked out defensive tackle Fred Evans this week, as well as a handful of offensive linemen, including Conor Boffeli, Caylin Hauptmann, and Martin Wallace, according to Yates (Twitter link).
  • Despite a rumor to the contrary, coach Ron Rivera says the Panthers plan to let the legal process play out with Greg Hardy and he will not be released before there’s a resolution in the courts, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • Roger Goodell made a serious error in how he handled the Ray Rice case, but Panthers owner Jerry Richardson still has time to get it right when it comes to Hardy, writes Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer. For now the NFL and the Panthers are respecting the legal process, but they have the right to punish Hardy before things get underway in court, and Fowler thinks they should take advantage.
  • There’s a strong possibility that the NFLPA will file a grievance on behalf of Rice even without his approval, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec and Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
  • With Josh Gordon‘s suspension set to be reduced to 10 games, it could “open a can of worms” with others who tested positive in 2013 fighting for a revised suspension, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

AFC North Notes: Rice, Green, Gilbert

September 12th, 2014 at 1:32pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ray Rice incident continues to dominate both the front page and the back page of newspapers around the country. Yesterday, we rounded up the latest news on the embattled ex-Ravens running back and the controversy surrounding commissioner Roger Goodell. Here’s a bit more on Rice and other news out of the AFC North..

  • The NFL has informed Rice and the NFLPA that it increased his suspension because the new video showed a “starkly different” sequence of events than the version he presented to the league, writes Jane McManus of ESPN.com. “This video shows a starkly different sequence of events from what you and your representatives stated when we met on June 16,” Goodell wrote, “and is important new information that warrants reconsideration of the discipline imposed on you in July.” Meanwhile, other reports have indicated that Rice did not distort the events in his meetings with the Ravens and the NFL.
  • Sunday’s matchup of the Bengals and Falcons feels like it’s just as much about A.J. Green versus Julio Jones. The two wide receivers are eyeing their next contract and NFL front office execs tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter that each deal will be based on cornerback Patrick Peterson‘s pact with the Cardinals. That means that they’re both looking at the possibility of $14MM per season and maybe more with an increased salary cap.
  • Browns rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert has a target on his back and the club expects him to rise above it, writes Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. “When you’re a top 10 pick — I went through this my rookie year as the No. 8 pick — expectations are so high to have one or two balls caught on you is really unacceptable,” Whitner said. “To give up almost 100, you know, really, you know we don’t think it’s acceptable. He understands that. He has to work on getting better.”

Latest On Roger Goodell, Ray Rice Incident

September 11th, 2014 at 5:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, Giants owner John Mara and Steelers owner Art Rooney III issued a joint statement on the upcoming independent investigation into the Ray Rice incident and how it was later dealt with. Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Facebook) has republished the statement in full. There has been some criticism towards the NFL for Mara and Rooney’s role in the investigation since they have been longtime Goodell supporters. In the statement, the duo asserts that their only mission is to do what’s right. “Our sole motive here is to get the truth and then share Mr. Mueller’s findings with the public,” the statement reads. Here’s more on the NFL’s biggest story..

  • The investigation is already underway, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
  • Goodell didn’t pursue the incident as vigorously as he might have out of respect for Rice’s now-wife, Janay, one owner tells Kevin Clark of the Wall Street Journal. According to the source, Goodell privately told other owners that Janay Rice told him she had struck Ray Rice and that she believed she was partly at fault for the incident. Goodell also said he left the meeting believing that Janay had become unconscious because she had fallen during the scuffle.
  • Goodell has strong support among influential ownership groups and barring overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing, that’s unlikely to change, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. “They’re standing by him, across the board,” said one league source who has spoken to executives on several clubs about the ongoing matter. “You haven’t seen one owner come out questioning him. Their instinct is to defend him, and it’s going to take quite a bit to change that.”
  • Mark Maske of the Washington Post hears that the owners are prepared to boot Goodell if the investigation shows egregious misconduct. Still, Maske heard a great deal of support for Goodell and his body of work aside from this recent controversy.
  • At least one owner isn’t sure the NFL commish will survive the saga, writes Peter King of The MMQB. “I am starting to get a sick feeling about how out of control this is getting,” one owner said, “But, I am standing by Roger. He has been great for our league.”
  • One owner tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report that while he trusts Goodell, he feels that no owner will support him if he is obfuscating in any way.
  • Bears chairman George H. McCaskey issued a statement today that strongly backed Goodell, as Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes. McCaskey called the commissioner “a man of integrity” even though many have been critical of him in the last week.
  • Jason Cole (on Twitter) is skeptical and does not see this investigation as being truly independent.

Latest On Ray Rice Incident

September 10th, 2014 at 9:59pm CST by Luke Adams

9:59pm: Goodell announced that former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation on the Rice incident, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Mueller’s investigation will be overseen by NFL owners John Mara of the Giants and Art Rooney of the Steelers, and the final report will be made public (link).

The league has hired independent investigators for conflicts in the past, including the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito case of last year and Chris Kluwe‘s situation with the Vikings.

7:06pm: Senate Commerce Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller is mobilizing members to hold hearings on the NFL domestic violence issue, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter).

6:15pm: When asked how the NFL will look into the new report from the AP, a source told Norah O’Donnell of CBS (on Twitter) that the league’s “security department will be doing everything we can to determine if this is true.” An NFL exec told O’Donnell (link) that the AP report doesn’t contradict what Goodell said but “if there’s a delivery sitting under someone’s desk there will be consequences.”

6:13pm: A source tells Mark Maske of the Washington Post (on Twitter) that Goodell remains adamant that he won’t resign.

5:56pm: According to Josh Margolin, Darren Rovell, and Aaron Katersky of ABC News, the Revel casino told the Ravens to ask Rice’s lawyer for a copy of the video, but the team never followed through on that.

Meanwhile, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass, and GM Ozzie Newsome sat down with Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun and discussed the situation. Cass detailed the organization’s efforts to obtain a copy of the video, which included calling the casino, the prosecutor’s office and the New Jersey state police. Rice’s lawyer, however, was not in that list of people contacted for the footage.

4:07pm: On the heels of commissioner Roger Goodell issuing a memo to team owners and execs reiterating that the league was unable to view or obtain the elevator footage of Ray Rice‘s attack on his then-fiancée, a law enforcement official now says that he sent an NFL executive a copy of the video in April, writes Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press.

According to the AP report, the law enforcement official played a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number in which a female voice confirms the video arrived, expresses thanks, and says, “You’re right. It’s terrible.” Although the law enforcement official wasn’t legally authorized to released the video, he tells the AP that he shared it with the NFL because he wanted the league to see it before deciding on Rice’s punishment.

Goodell and league officials have repeatedly stated that they tried to view the elevator footage, requesting it from multiple police departments, but were unable to obtain it. In the wake of the AP’s report, an NFL spokesman tells Mike Garafalo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that the league has “no knowledge” of anyone from its office viewing the video, and will “look into” the matter.

Needless to say, it would be a significant blow for the NFL and for Goodell if it turns out league executives had indeed viewed the recently-leaked video months ago. While a seemingly half-hearted and unsuccessful attempt to obtain the video reflects poorly on the NFL, it would be far more damaging for league officials if they viewed the footage, decided on merely a two-game suspension for Rice, and then tried to cover their tracks this week by lying about what they knew.

Goodell Issues Memo On Rice Investigation

September 10th, 2014 at 2:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Commissioner Roger Goodell has issued a memo to the presidents and chief executives of teams around the league, attempting to clarify confusion about how the league handled the investigation into Ray Rice‘s domestic violence incident. Via NFL.com, here’s the complete statement from Goodell:

Read more

Roger Goodell On Ray Rice Situation

September 9th, 2014 at 7:30pm CST by Zachary Links

In an interview with Norah O’Donnell of CBS, commissioner Roger Goodell gave his first interview since the new footage of the Ray Rice incident leaked to the public. Goodell, who has taken a great deal of criticism in the last couple of days over his handling of the situation, maintains that he never saw the second tape before it was released by TMZ.

“We had not seen any videotape of what occurred in the elevator. We assumed that there was a video, we asked for video, we asked for anything that was pertinent, but we were never granted that opportunity,” Goodell said.

Goodell went on to take accountability for how the situation has been handled and said that as commissioner, he is the one who is responsible for that. Meanwhile, when asked if Rice will be barred from the NFL for good, Goodell didn’t rule out an eventual return for the Rutgers product.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has issued a letter to the team’s PSL holders and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has republished it. In the letter, the owner admits his own shortcomings.

“Seeing that video changed everything,” Bisciotti said. “We should have seen it earlier. We should have pursued our own investigation more vigorously. We didn’t and we were wrong.”

Ray Rice Links: Tuesday

September 9th, 2014 at 12:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Footage of Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in an Atlantic City casino was revealed by TMZ on Monday, prompting the Ravens and the NFL to finally institute a harsher punishment on the running back, who was released by Baltimore and indefinitely suspended by the league. In the aftermath of the new video and the increased penalties for Rice, the NFL and the Ravens are facing increased scrutiny about just how much they knew about the case, and whether or not they’d actually seen that elevator footage before the public did on Monday.

Here are the latest links and developments related to Rice, the NFL’s role in the incident, and the running back’s future (or lack thereof) in the NFL:

  • A report from TMZ this morning revealed that the NFL never approached the Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City about acquiring the elevator security footage, with sources from the casino suggesting that the Revel would have “gladly complied” if such a request had been made.
  • In a statement today, the NFL didn’t deny that allegation, indicating that the request for the video of the incident was only submitted to the police. “As we said yesterday: We requested from law enforcement any and all information about the incident, including the video from inside the elevator,” the NFL’s statement reads, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “That video was not made available to us.”
  • Sources tell Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Rice’s description to the Ravens of what happened in the elevator was consistent with what the footage showed, but that the brutality of it still “stunned” the team’s ownership. While that may be true of Rice’s account of the events to Ravens management, any notion that Rice was entirely honest to his teammates about what happened in that elevator is “totally inaccurate,” tweets Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report.
  • Appearing on CBS This Morning, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he’d be “shocked” if another team signed Rice, adding that he doesn’t believe the running back will play another game in the NFL. Kraft also praised commissioner Roger Goodell for his handling of the situation, noting that Goodell hadn’t seen the elevator footage before yesterday.
  • Janay Rice, Ray’s now-wife, released a statement via Instagram in which she blamed the media for causing her family pain and taking away her husband’s job. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has the full details.
  • In the view of Mike Florio, the NFL needs to hire an independent third-party investigator to look into the Ravens’ and the league’s investigations of the Rice incident to find out exactly who knew what, and when. “At this point,” Florio writes, “the only way to [get the truth] is to retain someone with no stake in the outcome to find out precisely how the team and the league got to this point.”

Ray Rice Released, Suspended Indefinitely

September 8th, 2014 at 2:22pm CST by Luke Adams

2:22pm: The Ravens were told a “softer” version of events than those shown on the video, tweets Judy Battista of NFL.com. That sounds to me like an attempt to save face, since it’s hard to imagine a “soft” version of an incident that led to Rice dragging his unconscious fiancée out of an elevator.

1:43pm: The NFL, which claimed not to have seen the most recent video before today, has announced Rice has been indefinitely suspended, according to league spokesman Greg Aiello (Twitter link).

1:34pm: In the wake of TMZ’s publication of a new video that shows Ray Rice knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator, the running back has been released by the Ravens, the team announced today (Twitter link). Rice had been on track to return from his two-game suspension following the team’s game on Thursday against the Steelers, but now he’ll be looking for work. And as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, it will likely be a long time – if ever – before another team signs him.

By releasing Rice, who had three years remaining on his contract, the Ravens will clear about $3.53MM in cap room for 2014, and will carry $9.5MM in dead money on their cap for the 2015 season. Of course, cap figures were hardly a consideration in the move, with the Ravens facing increased scrutiny for their support of Rice following the release of the new elevator footage.

As Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported earlier today, the team claimed not to have seen the video before this morning, but a source said Rice described the incident in detail and that it was in line with how it played out on the security footage. In that case, it’s fair to question why the Ravens would back Rice for the last several months before deciding to cut him now under an avalanche of bad PR.

With Rice no longer on the roster, the Ravens figure to rely on Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett for the majority of their carries, with Lorenzo Taliaferro potentially in the mix as well.

Latest On Ray Rice

September 8th, 2014 at 9:33am CST by Luke Adams

With the Ravens scheduled to play Week 2’s Thursday night game against the Steelers, running back Ray Rice is on track to return from his two-game suspension later this week, potentially rejoining his team on Friday. However, a new video from TMZ which shows Rice’s assault of his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City elevator, could potentially delay Rice’s return to action.

As Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk wrote earlier today, if the NFL had yet to see the newly-public footage, the league could ultimately decide to re-open the case and reassess Rice’s punishment. Sure enough, as Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com tweets, the NFL released a statement today indicating that no one in the league office had seen the elevator video until now, despite having requested it from law enforcement earlier.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) reports that the Ravens also hadn’t seen the video until today, though a source said that Rice described what happened and didn’t “sugarcoat” details, meaning the description the team heard was in line with what the elevator footage showed.

While it may be true that the NFL and the Ravens hadn’t seen the video until this morning, the fact that TMZ was able to get its hands on the footage shows that it was obtainable, which raises some questions about how aggressive the league and the team were in attempting to view it.

It’s not clear yet whether the NFL will revisit Rice’s two-game suspension — the aforementioned statement about the video is the only comment the league has made so far. However, the NFL recently introduced a more punitive policy on domestic violence, which calls for a six-game ban for a first offense. With talk of a new drug policy retroactively wiping out current suspensions, it’s fair to wonder if the league will decide to retroactively add a few games to Rice’s ban, based on that new domestic violence policy.

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