Ray Rice Appeal Filed, Women's Group Calls for #ResignGoodell

A national women’s group says an appeal filed by the NFL Players Association seeking to reinstate former Baltimore Ravens runningback Ray Rice demonstrates the need for the NFL to oust commissioner Roger Goodell.

Rice was fired Sept. 8 by the Ravens after after TMZ released footage of Rice knocking out his then-fiancee inside an elevator at Atlantic City’s Revel Casino Hotel in February. He also was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Initially, Goodell handed Rice a two-game suspension after Rice was charged with assault following the February altercation.

The National Organization for Women’s website criticizes the NFL commissioner, saying he “has repeatedly shown that he is unwilling to effectively deal with the issue. Therefore, it is time for Goodell to go.”

A petition on the site under the hashtag #ResignGoodell outlines the group’s views, directed to the commissioner. “With the release of the second video in the Ray Rice domestic violence case, it has become clear that you are only concerned with the NFL’s image – not the League’s violence against women problem,” the organization says.

The New York Daily News says the NFL has enlisted three women to advise the league on domestic violence incidents in the aftermath of national criticism on its handling of the Rice Case. The advisors are: Lisa Friel, a former prosecutor who headed the Manhattan district attorney’s sex crimes unit; Jane Randel, a former Liz Claiborne executive who founded NO MORE, an organization whose goal is to combat domestic violence; and Rita Smith, the Denver-based former head of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

WTOP reports in a statement by the NFL players’ union that its appeal on behalf of Rice is based on “a lack of a fair and impartial process.” It’s asking for a neutral arbitrator to hear the case, arguing the running back is being punished twice for the same offense.

Rice and his fiancée married in March, the day after he was indicted on the third-degree assault charge.

Through the courts, Rice was enrolled in a pretrial intervention program in May that includes counseling and requires employment as a stipulation for participation.

Related:

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• Prosecutor: Rice Wouldn’t Have Faced Jail Time, Even if Convicted
• NFL Taps Former FBI Director to Lead Investigation into Rice Case
• Did NFL Have Ray Rice Video? Law Enforcement Officer Says Yes
• Punch Costs Ray Rice Millions in Salary, Endorsements
• Baltimore Ravens Offer Ray Rice Jersey Exchange Next Week
• Bisciotti to Fans: ‘Seeing that Video Changed Everything’
• Comments on Rice Controversy: ‘Highly Offensive,’ Credibility Lost
• Janay Rice, Wife Of Ray Rice, Responds To ‘Horrible Nightmare’
• Ravens Terminate Ray Rice Contract After TMZ Video Released
• Disturbing New Video of NFL’s Ray Rice Shows What Happened Inside Elevator
• NFL Enacts Tougher Domestic Violence Penalties After Ray Rice Criticism
• Ray Rice Apologizes to Wife: ‘Angel’ Not at Fault
• ‘Disappointing’: Ravens React to Ray Rice Announcement
• Ray Rice: ‘I Won’t Call Myself a Failure’
• NFL Officials Make Decision on Ray Rice Suspension
• Rice Admitted to Pre-Trial Intervention Program
• Ray Rice Pleads Not Guilty, Deal Pending
• Day After Ray Rice Indicted on Assault Charge, He Weds Fiancée
• Baltimore Ravens Running Back Ray Rice Faces New Criminal Charge
• Ray Rice Arrested in Atlantic City