Free agent RB Ray Rice has "filed a formal grievance against the Ravens for wrongful termination" of his $35M contract after a video was released last month showing him knocking out his then-fiance, according to sources cited by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore SUN. The new grievance filed with the league falls under Article 46 of the CBA, which "governs 'One Punishment,' and prohibits an NFL player from receiving more than one punishment for a single rule violation." It is "intended to guard against the legal concept of double jeopardy." Rice also "has a separate grievance filed" by the NFLPA. Sources said that that appeal hearing is "set for Nov. 5 and Nov. 6." No hearing date "has been set for the grievance against the Ravens" (Baltimore SUN, 10/22). YAHOO SPORTS' Jay Busbee notes this is "not an insignifcant issue." While the NFLPA is now in the "position of having to defend someone whose conduct was reprehensible, the larger point stands." If the NFL and teams "can continue to double-dip in terms of punishment based on this precedent, the system is open to abuse" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/22).
SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE: ESPNW's Jane McManus noted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has "declined to testify" in Rice's appeal, but he can be "compelled to do so by former U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones, who will be the neutral arbiter in the case." The NFL "shouldn't be obstructing and stalling as it is asked about the process the league used to decide upon an indefinite suspension." McManus: "Who better than Goodell to know how forthcoming Rice was in the initial NFL hearing about the matter, the one that resulted in an initial two-game suspension in late July. Who knows better than Goodell what piece of information he was referring to when he said, in a CBS interview, that Rice was 'ambiguous' about what happened" (ESPNW.com, 10/21).
