UNION-RICE APPEAL
Appeal expected today
NEW YORK (AP) β The players’ union today plans to appeal the indefinite suspension the NFL handed to Ray Rice last week.
NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah told The Associated Press yesterday “we are expecting to appeal before the deadline on Tuesday night.” That deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Rice originally was suspended two games under the NFL’s personal conduct policy for striking his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator. When videotape of that incident was made public and showed Rice punching his now-wife Janay, knocking her unconscious, the Baltimore Ravens released the running back.
Almost immediately after that, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made Rice’s suspension indefinite.
Although he doesn’t have a team, Rice remains a member of the NFLPA.
Rice can apply for reinstatement when he convinces Goodell that he is “addressing this issue.” Rice can avoid prosecution and a criminal record by completing a pretrial intervention program, a resolution prosecutors said they agreed to after consulting with Janay Rice.
NFL-PANTHERS-HARDY
Hardy’s status unclear
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he isn’t sure if Greg Hardy will play Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that the team hasn’t considered releasing the Pro Bowl defensive end, who is involved in a domestic violence case.
Rivera says Hardy will continue to practice and attend team meetings, but he won’t make a decision on if he plays until later this week.
Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats, but is appealing the ruling.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Nationals, Orioles eye titles
UNDATED (AP) β The Washington Nationals can clinch the NL East with a win at Atlanta tonight. The defending champion Braves are trying to snap a four-game losing streak while the Nats look for their fourth straight victory. It would be the second division title in three years for Washington.
Over in the American League, Baltimore can clinch its first division title since 1997 with a win over visiting Toronto tonight. The Birds inched closer to the AL East crown by beating the Blue Jays 5-2 last night.
Detroit begins the night with a one-and a-half-game lead over Kansas City in the AL Central. The Tigers visit Minnesota while the Royals host the Chicago White Sox. In the AL West, Seattle plays at the Los Angeles Angels a night after LA clinched a postseason berth. The Mariners are two games out of the wild-card picture. Also tonight Oakland will host Texas.
A key series in the National League Central begins tonight with Milwaukee at St. Louis. The Brewers start the night five games behind the first-place Cardinals. As for wild-card hopes, the Brewers are a game and a-half out of the picture behind both Pittsburgh and San Francisco. The Pirates host Boston tonight while the Giants visit Arizona. Staying in the NL West, first-place Los Angeles visits Colorado. The Dodgers top the Giants by four games.
Also tonight Cincinnati righty Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) looks to improve his mark to 19-8 when the Reds visit the Chicago Cubs. Rounding out the scheduke, the New York Yankees visit Tampa Bay, the New York Mets host Miami, Cleveland visits Houston and Philadelphia plays at San Diego.
