Report: Ray Rice to appeal indefinite suspension Monday

Ray Rice has remained out of the spotlight since receiving an indefinite suspension from the NFL on Monday, but it seems he's prepared to make a big move this Monday.

Rice will appeal his indefinite suspension on Monday, according to ProFootballTalk.

This from ProFootabllTalk:

The appeal will be handled by the NFLPA and by an outside lawyer retained by Rice.
 
Because the indefinite suspension was imposed under the personal-conduct policy, Commissioner Roger Goodell will have the ultimate authority over the appeal.  Don’t be surprised if Rice and the union ask that Goodell designate a hearing officer who has no current connection to the league office, which Goodell ultimately did in the appeal of the players suspended in connection with the Saints bounty case.

Apart from whether Goodell potentially has prejudged the Rice case before the appeal process has played out, Goodell also will be a witness in the appeal process, since one of the key questions is whether Rice lied to the team or the league about what happened in the elevator.

Rice's main argument is expected to be that he told the team and the league the truth in the first place. The result of the appeal will come down to whether or not the arbitrator, upon hearing testimony from the likes of Goodell, Rice, and other witnesses, believes that Rice lied.

Given that Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said that Rice didn't lie, the league faces an uphill battle in this case.

In the case against the Saints, Goodell tabbed former league commissioner Paul Tagliabue as arbitrator. He eventually overturned all Saints players suspensions.

With an investigation already underway into what happened with the video tape showing Rice striking his then-fiancee Janay Palmer in the elevator of an Atlantic City casino, this appeal could serve to bring more truths in that matter to light.