Ray Rice could be reinstated within a month?

Could Ray Rice end up as a Colt or Patriot in 2014? (Getty Images)

Former Ravens running back Ray Rice remains suspended indefinitely following the publication of the video of him striking his now-wife, Janay, in a casino elevator, but he could be reinstated within the next four weeks, sources said.

An appeal hearing date has been set, with a final decision expected to come in an expeditious manner thereafter, and all of that could be resolved by mid-November, which would conceivably allow Rice to sign with another team this season.

Perhaps, even if reinstated, teams will find him too controversial to sign, but there is every expectation his playing status will be resolved before the NFL's investigation into its handling of his case, being conducted by former FBI chief Robert Mueller, is completed.

Former U.S. District Court Judge Barbara S. Jones is handling the appeal as a neutral, third-party arbitrator, and all sides in the case have agreed to a date to conduct the hearing in the near future. That date could change somewhat based on what Jones rules this week on some requests the NFLPA made to have certain materials available to them in discovery, but sources said Rice's legal team has made it explicitly clear it has no desire to wait until the NFL and the NFLPA's investigations are concluded to resolve the matter of this suspension appeal.

Rice has maintained he did not lie in his testimony to Commissioner Roger Goodell, and his legal team will make the case that even under the NFL's new domestic violence policy, and as a first-time offender, Rice should be suspended a maximum of six games, which has already passed. Furthermore, they will make the argument that the video tape of Rice's actions were available to the team and the league throughout the process of determining his discipline, and thus nothing changed whatsoever with the case from the time Rice was suspended two games, until eventually being suspended indefinitely, save for TMZ obtaining and posting the video.

Numerous legal experts I've spoken to believe Rice has an exceedingly strong case, and, considering it could be Week 10 or so before this hearing is resolved, it's hard for them to conceive that Rice isn't reinstated by Jones as part of her decision. If he is, would a team like the Colts, coached by former Ravens assistant Chuck Pagano who thinks highly of Rice, or New England, where Bill Belichick has very strong ties to Rice's college coach, Greg Schiano, take a chance on Rice if they need a running back down the stretch?

We just might find out.

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Despite desire to get Matt Asiata more involved, RB Jerick McKinnon remains Vikings' starter



Rookie running back Jerick McKinnon will get his second start for the Minnesota Vikings when they head to Buffalo to take on the Bills in Week 7. RB Matt Asiata, who took over for Adrian Peterson in Week 2, after the Vikings star landed in legal trouble over alleged child abuse, leads the team with 226 rushing yards on the season. However, McKinnon has run for 206 yards on 23 fewer carries. Both backs figure to remain involved, but McKinnon figures to continue as the lead back after getting 11 carries to Asiata's two in Week 6. McKinnon ran for 40 yards on those carries while adding 6 catches for 42 yards.



Reports earlier in the week claimed that the Vikings wanted to get Asiata more involved than he was in Week 6. While that may be true, it seems evident that they're also aware that McKinnon is the more explosive of the two.He is averaging 5.0 yards per carry to Asiata's 3.5 yards per tote.McKinnon will be a RB3/flex option going forward, with a little added value in PPR leagues. Unfortunately for McKinnon owners, Asiata has a nose for the endzone and will probably steal some goal-line carries if and when the Vikings get there. This week, McKinnon has a tough test as Minnesota faces a Buffalo team that gives up a league low 67.5 yards per game on the ground.