NFL says Rice is 'eligible to play upon signing a new contract' after an arbitrator decided that the decision to change Rice original suspension from two games to indefinite was 'arbitrary.'
- Nov 29, 2014
AceShowbiz - Ray Rice can now play for NFL again. The football running back who is currently a free agent has won the appeal of his indefinite suspension handed down by the NFL following the surface of footage, which showed him attacking his then fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator.
Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones ruled on Friday, November 28 that the indefinite suspension should be vacated immediately because Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision in September to change Rice's original suspension from two games to indefinite was "arbitrary."
Jones explained, "In this arbitration, the NFL argues that Commissioner Goodell was misled when he disciplined Rice the first time," but "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."
The NFL responded to the decision, "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."
Rice said in a statement released by the players' union, "I would like to thank Judge Barbara Jones, the NFL Players Association, my attorneys, agents, advisers, family, friends and fans -- but most importantly, my wife Janay. I made an inexcusable mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions. 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."
Rice's contract with Baltimore Ravens was terminated after the graphic video made its way out online in September.
In her first interview since Rice was cut from the Baltimore Ravens, his wife Janay Palmer told ESPN, "The video didn't make me rethink our relationship, but I did want more of an explanation from him."
"I asked him why he left me on the floor like that," she continued. "I asked him how he felt when he saw that I was unconscious. He told me he was in shock. I asked him what happened when we got out of the elevator. He told me he was terrified because security was there. I asked him how he felt seeing me like that. He said he was thinking, 'What did I just do?' I didn't watch the video again."
