There have been many knee-jerk reactions in the wake of Ray Rice’s indefinite suspension from the NFL.
The NFL Players’ Association, however, is holding out for more information before offering its stance on the issue.
The NFLPA has the authority to decide whether to appeal the suspension of any player, but executive director DeMaurice Smith says that the union has not yet received a letter from the league confirming Rice’s suspension.
“I would have expected the letter to be delivered earlier, but we’re awaiting the delivery of the letter,” Smith told ESPN.com Wednesday.
Smith added that a letter regarding a suspension is usually delivered within one business day. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely after TMZÂ published a video on its website showing the Baltimore Ravens running back punching his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, in an Atlantic City, N.J., elevator.
“The first step in that disciplinary process would be that delivery of that letter indicating the basis for discipline and that hasn’t occurred yet,” Smith said.
Under the NFL’s new domestic violence policy, which was overhauled on Aug. 28, first-time offenders would receive a six-game suspension, although “extenuating facts” could increase the length of the suspension.
Smith added that he planned to wait for the league’s basis for indefinitely suspending Rice and then reach out to the 27-year-old before making any further decision.
Photo via Twitter/@SInow
