Former Baltimore Ravens' running back Ray Rice's suspension appeal hearing is slated for Wednesday and Thursday of this week, November 5 and 6, according to a report from ESPN.
Rice's $35 million contract was terminated Sep. 8 by Baltimore after a video surfaced of him hitting his then-fiancée and then dragging her lifeless body out of a casino elevator in Atlantic City, NJ.
Rice's suspension, which had originally been only for two games, was increased to an indefinite suspension by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after video evidence revealed the extent of Rice's violence.
Goodell himself must testify under oath at the hearing, according to a report from Jay Busbee of Yahoo! Sports. It is unclear whether his testimony will be confidential.
NFL attorneys apparently sought to protect Goodell from testifying, offering up the league's general counsel, Jeff Pash, and the league's vice president for labor policy, Adolpho Birch, in his stead.
The third-party arbitrator overseeing the suspended running back's hearing against the NFL has issued a gag order requiring all parties involved not to comment on the pending matter publicly, sources told Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
In the hearing, Rice will argue that he told the truth to Goodell and the Ravens from the start, according to Wilson's sources.
"During the grievance, Rice's representatives will argue that the NFL violated his rights under Article 46 of the collective bargaining agreement," writes Wilson. "That governs 'One Punishment,' and prohibits teams and the NFL from punishing a player more than once for the same violation.
"Rice has also filed a separate formal grievance against the Ravens for wrongful termination of his contract. The three-time Pro Bowl running back was paid $25 million of the deal within the first seasons of the contract that was signed in July 2012."
There was talk that a settlement could be reached at some point before the hearing commences, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, but it seems that it will continue as scheduled.
