The National Football League banned Ray Rice over an incident of domestic violence caught on video. But if his appeal of the ruling wins, Rice could be back playing football this season.
Former U.S. District Judge Barbara Jones serves as a neutral arbitrator for Ray Rice’s appeal of the ban. If she rules in his favor, the running back could be right back in the market to re-join the NFL, if any team will have him.
NBC News reports that the appeal hearing is set for November 5 and 6.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is likely to testify before this hearing.
Goodell feels that Jones was a good choice for arbitrator. Goodell said the former judge has “our full cooperation as she hears and decides this appeal.”
Rice became a subject of controversy when video emerged showing him dragging his unconscious girlfriend Janay Palmer–now his wife–out of a casino elevator. As the 2014 season began Rice was punished with fines and a two-game suspension, but when a second video showed him actually throwing a knockout punch, both his team and the league reversed their punishments, with the Ravens releasing their star running back and the NFL banning the player indefinitely.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com
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