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NFL players union backs banned Rice

NFPLA says American footballer protected from lifetime ban for knocking wife unconscious by double jeopardy rules

Disgraced American football player Ray Rice was yesterday considering contesting his indefinite ban from the NFL for knocking his then fiancee unconscious in a lift in February.

At first, the league suspended Rice for two games for hitting his wife Janay but after the footage was leaked of him hitting her and then dragging her body out of the lift, the NFL banned the running back for life and the Baltimore Ravens released him from his $35 million (£21,547,279) contract.

NFL Players Association (NFLPA) officials believe that due to Rice being initially punished for two games, the league cannot further punish him with a lifetime ban for the same incident as it falls under the “double jeopardy” argument.

The 27-year-old’s case depends on whether he was up-front and honest with the league about what happened and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said last week that Rice never lied about what happened.

However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to the NFLPA on Friday citing the reasons as to why the punishment was increased and in it said Rice had told the league a different version of events.

“This video shows a starkly different sequence of events from what you and your representatives stated when we met on June 16 and is important new information that warrants reconsideration of the discipline imposed on you in July,” Goodell wrote in the letter.

“Based on this new information, I have concluded that the discipline imposed upon you in July was insufficient under all the circumstances and have determined instead to impose an indefinite suspension.”

The NFLPA has until today to respond to the suspension and the players union will fight the ban, using Article 46, Section 4 of the NFL collective bargaining agreement, known as the “One Penalty” rule which states: “The Commissioner and a Club will not both discipline a player for the same act or conduct.”

Goodell has since come under heavy criticism for the way he has handled the situation with reports coming out that the NFL, and the Ravens, recieved the footage months ago but knowingly ignored the evidence and only acted when the video was leaked.

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