Rice wins appeal of NFL suspension

Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice has been reinstated to the NFL after winning his appeal of indefinite suspension, according to reports.

{mosads}Rice, who can now sign with any team, was suspended indefinitely last September after a video surfaced of him hitting his then-fiancee inside an elevator in Atlantic City.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell drew national backlash after reversing course on handing down a two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The former U.S. District Court judge who heard Rice’s appeal said the 27-year-old player gave an accurate account of the incident when he met with the NFL in June.

“I do not doubt that viewing the video in September evoked horror in Commissioner Goodell as it did with the public. But this does not change the fact that Rice did not lie or mislead the NFL at the June 16 meeting,” Barbara Jones wrote.

An NFL spokesman said the league respects the decision, according to the Wall Street Journal.

This post was updated at 6:50 p.m.