Rice appeal: Judge to rule if Goodell will testify

A judge will decide this week whether to hear Roger Goodell's testimony in the Ray Rice appeal. (USATSI)

Judge Barbara Jones -- recently appointed as an independent arbitrator in Ray Rice's appeal -- will decide this week whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should testify, a league source told CBSSports.com.

Goodell worked with NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith in selecting Jones, who recently told the two sides she expects to make a ruling on Goodell's testimony this week.

"We are grateful to Judge Jones for taking on this role," Goodell said when the appointment was announced. "She will have our full cooperation as she hears and decides this appeal."

It's hard to imagine Jones deciding Goodell shouldn't testify; it's certainly her prerogative to pick either way, but one of the primary issues is what Rice told Goodell during their first meeting.

Goodell told CBS News what Rice told him during the meeting was "ambiguous" and reiterated later that the description of the events was "ambiguous and not consistent" with what the NFL saw on the video when it went public. A report emerged that Rice told Goodell he hit his then fiancee Janay Rice.

There are some discrepancies here, obviously. Clearing up what "ambiguous" means through on-record testimony would be a great start for both sides. What, specifically, does Goodell claim Rice told him during the meeting? He hasn't answered yet and can't be compelled to answer by fans or media. A court of law is a different story, even if it's arbitration.

Additionally, the NFLPA is leaning on double jeopardy as part of its method in asking for a reversal of Rice's indefinite suspension (Rice was initially suspended two games).

Goodell's testimony about what facts he used for the first suspension and Goodell's testimony about what facts he used for the second, indefinite suspension can provide clarity into whether there was a second, different set of facts.

In short, there's a small handful of people who know and/or have an opinion as to what happened in the meeting with Goodell and Rice. Goodell is one of them; hearing his testimony and explanation of the meeting and suspensions during an appeal of the suspensions seems like a no-brainer.

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WR Sammy Watkins goes off, QB Kyle Orton leads Bills to comeback win



The Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins showed why they took him with the 4th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Watkins posted career highs in catches (9), yards (122), and touchdowns (2) in the Bills 17-16 comeback win against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. QB Kyle Orton, who put up a solid stat line of 283 yards and two touchdowns on the day, took the ball with 3:16 left in the game, down 16-10, and 80 yards in front of him. The 2005 Purdue gradute proceeded to engineer a 15-play drive that was capped off by a Watkins 2-yard touchdown catch with 0:01 showing on the game clock.



Everyone knows what Watkins is capable of doing. It appears that there is some chemistry and trust developing between Orton and the stud rookie. Watkins was targeted a team-high 14 times on the day. With RBs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller both suffering injuries that could lead to extended missed-time, expect Watkins to become the focal point of the Bills offense. He's a solid WR2 in most formats going forward.