Ray Rice, NFLPA appealing indefinite suspension

With the NFL deciding to hand running back Ray Rice an indefinite suspension following the release of a video showing him punching his then-fiancee, the former Ravens running back has decided to appeal.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Rice and the NFLPA are both appealing the decision, believing that he's being punished twice for the same incident. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has previously stated that the NFL saw the second video for the first time when it was published by TMZ for the first time last Monday.

Of course, that has been the center of a national debate, as to whether the NFL saw the video before last Monday or not. The Associated Press, citing a law enforcement source, states that the NFL received the video unsolicited in April.

Previous reports following the initial incident in February indicated the NFL had access to the video. The league hired Robert S. Mueller III, a former FBI director, to head what the league considers to be an independent investigation into the matter.

At this point, Rice doesn't have much to lose in appealing. The Ravens have released him and have no plans in picking him back up. Other teams probably won't touch him for the remainder of the 2014 season. But if he's successful, he wouldn't have any hoops to jump through in case a team decides to take a chance on him during or before the 2015 season.

Follow me on Twitter: @JasonHButt

Upcoming Games