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Ray Rice could return to the NFL within a month

Rice has strong ties with both Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts and could be playing for one of them by the playoffs.

By Aileen Graef
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice could be back in the league and on a team before the Super Bowl. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice could be back in the league and on a team before the Super Bowl. UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice could reportedly be reinstated into the NFL within the next few weeks, possibly putting him back on the field.

After the final appeal hearing in mid-November, CBS Sports reports Rice could be reinstated and signed by another team before the end of the season. The date could be subject to change due to the NFLPA investigation, but Rice's attorneys have made it clear they want a quick decision in regards to the suspension.

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Rice was suspended indefinitely from the NFL after a video surfaced of him punching his then-fiancee Janay Rice in an elevator and rendering her unconscious. The NFL and the Baltimore Ravens were sharply criticized after only handing down a two-game suspension for the offense. He was eventually cut from the Ravens and indefinitely suspended by the NFL after another damning video was released, causing public outrage to intensify.

Rice's "exceedingly strong" case -- as dubbed by legal experts -- maintains Rice did not lie to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and that the tape of his actions was available to league officials at the time of his discipline. They are also expected to argue that under the new domestic violence policy of the NFL, Rice was only a first-time offender and thus can only be suspended for a maximum of six games.

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Rice is expected to be reinstated by former U.S. District Court Judge Barbara S. Jones, who is handling the case as a third party arbitrator, by Week 10 as part of her final decision. Rice has strong ties with both Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts and could be playing for one of them by the playoffs.

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