Ray Rice's NFL appeal hearing begins in New York

By

A two-day appeal hearing that former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice hopes will result in his immediate reinstatement to the National Football League began Wednesday in midtown Manhattan.

Rice arrived at the hearing at 9:15 a.m. holding hands with his wife, Janay Palmer, the woman he knocked out in a one-punch fight inside an Atlantic City, New Jersey, casino elevator in February.

The altercation triggered widespread criticism of how NFL Commissioner Goodell handles cases of domestic violence and led to the league's strengthening its policies against such crimes.

Rice, 27, a six-year NFL veteran, will argue that he was sanctioned twice by the league for the same offense.

Goodell, who is expected to testify at the hearing, suspended Rice in July for two games for punching Palmer, who was his fiancé at the time of the incident.

But in September, when surveillance video surfaced of the knockout from inside the elevator, Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely and the Ravens released the three-time Pro Bowler.

Goodell says he had not seen the knockout punch until it emerged on the Internet, and it constituted new evidence in the case. The NFL players union says Goodell knew everything that happened all along and that the commissioner was swayed by public reaction to the punch.

Rice was indicted in March on third-degree aggravated assault, but the charge was dropped because Palmer declined to testify against him. He ultimately agreed to court-supervised counseling as part of a pre-trial intervention program.

The NFL hearing, before independent arbitrator Barbara Jones, a former federal judge, is expected to conclude Thursday. Jones has instituted a gag order and neither side is expected to speak publicly about the hearing.

In addition to Goodell and Rice, others expected to testify at the hearing include league security chief Jeffrey Miller and Ravens President Dick Cass.

Tags
Ray Rice, NFL, Domestic Violence, Internet
Join the Discussion
More News
No Jail for Medical Student Found Guilty of Raping Drunk

No Jail for Medical Student Found Guilty of Raping Drunk Woman Who 'Couldn't Possibly Consent': He Is 'Young' and 'Talented'

Puerto Rican Server Told to 'Go Back to Mexico' By

Puerto Rican Server Told to 'Go Back to Mexico' by Customers in Racist Note: 'No Tips for Illegals'

Georgia Man Chris Louis Leaves Children at McDonald's

Georgia Dad Left Young Children at McDonald's While He Went to a Job Interview. Cops Were Waiting When He Returned

Kolstad Stoeckel

Minnesota Man Begged Deputies to 'Put One in My Head' After Shooting Sleeping Roommate: Police