A neutral arbitrator, rather than someone appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, "will rule" on the NFLPA's appeal of Ray Rice's indefinite suspension, according to an e-mail obtained by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com. NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith in the e-mail told the union's exec board that "'for the first time ever, the league in the Rice appeal has agreed to a neutral arbitrator' in a personal conduct disciplinary case." Both sides have "submitted candidates for the arbitration, and according to Smith, the union will 'confer with the league shortly regarding the final choice of the arbitrator.'" Smith also wrote that the NFLPA will "form a commission of diverse experts to assist the union and the league." Meanwhile, in "another gesture of partnership between the league and the union, Smith told the executive board that the NFLPA leadership has begun the process of reaching out to league sponsors" following the NFL's spate of domestic abuse issues (ESPN.com, 9/29). USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero notes Smith "met with Goodell on Friday to discuss potential changes to the NFL's personal conduct policy, which the commissioner has vowed to revamp by the Super Bowl in light of intense public criticism over the league's handling of domestic violence and other issues" (USA TODAY, 9/30).
PURPLE RAIN: In Baltimore, Sarah Meehan noted the Ravens will "host their annual girls night out," called A Purple Evening, at 4:00pm ET Oct. 13 at M&T Bank Stadium. The eighth annual Ravens event catered toward female fans "comes just more than a month" after TMZ's release of the Rice elevator video. Although the evening "targets female fans, it’s unclear whether the team will address that incident at the event." A Ravens spokesperson "declined to provide more details about the event or say whether the team would use it as a platform to rebuild relationships with its female audience." The event has "drawn hundreds of attendees in previous years." Tickets cost $40 in advance or $45 at the door (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/29).
