Judge rules Goodell should testify in Rice appeal

A person familiar with the case has told The Associated Press that an arbiter has ruled that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should testify in Ray Rice’s appeal of his indefinite suspension.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the appeal have not been made public.

The arbiter, former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, informed the parties of her decision Wednesday.

Rice was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy after a video of Rice hitting his then-fiancee in an elevator was released publicly. Goodell originally had suspended the running back for two games.

Once the video became public, the Baltimore Ravens cut Rice, and the league banned him indefinitely. The league considered the video to be new evidence, giving Goodell the authority to further suspend Rice.

The players’ union appealed Rice’s suspension, saying he should not be punished twice.

Jones was jointly picked by the commissioner and the players’ union.