According to ESPN, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice won his appeal of his indefinite suspension from the NFL on Friday. In her decision, United States District Judge Barbara S. Jones concluded that Rice did not lie or mislead Roger Goodell in Rice’s June interview with the NFL commissioner. Therefore, Jones found that the imposition of the second suspension was an abuse of discretion because it dealt with the same incident. Jones also stated that Goodell—who along with Rice, Rice’s wife Janay, and Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome testified in the hearing—needed to be more fair and consistent in the discipline he imposed. The NFL issued a statement in response saying they respected Jones’ decision to reinstate the running back, who is now eligible to sign with any team.
Scott Sherman is a Sports Highlight Contributor for the Harvard Journal of Sports and Entertainment Law and a current first year student at Harvard Law School (Class of 2017).