Ray Rice Suspension Overturned; Eligible For Immediate Return

Ray Rice’s suspension has been overturned, and he is eligible to return to the NFL immediately. The overturn is the result of an appeal Rice filed after being indefinitely suspended after public pressure on the organization earlier this year.

When news reached the public of an incident in which Rice assaulted his then-fiance, Janay Palmer, and dragged her from a hotel elevator, there was a great deal of blowback, with a lot of pressure on the NFL to implement a harsh punishment. Rice was given a lighter punishment than many thought appropriate: suspension for only two games.

Protests ensued, including banners being flown over NFL stadiums and a Twitter hashtag campaign calling for the NFL Commisioner, Roger Goodell, to be booted out of the position. #GoodellMustGo trended through games, and was accompanied by further call for action, including a series of CoverGirl NFL billboards photoshopped to suggest the subjects could use makeup to cover the signs of abuse.

Under pressure, and with the video of Janay being assaulted released to the public, NFL officials changed their tune, and the player was suspended indefinitely. Ray Rice appealed to have the suspension overturned, on the grounds that the punishment violated the NFL’s own rules for handling such infractions.

He said that the suspension amounted to ‘double jeopardy,’ and that, having handed down one punishment for his actions, the NFL should not be able to further punish him in absence of further infractions. It was widely speculated that he was correct, and that he’d be reinstated.

Now, according to NFL, that appeal is completed, and the former Baltimore Ravens running back may be returning to the field soon.

After a two-day hearing with hours of testimony earlier this month, the NFL commission accepted Rice’s claims. Ray Rice’s suspension was overturned, and he has the NFL commission’s blessing to return to the field immediately.

[photo credit: Keith Allison]

Ray Rice Suspension Overturned; Eligible For Immediate Return