NEW YORK (AP) — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says it’s up to a neutral arbiter to decide whether he should testify during an appeal of Ray Rice’s indefinite suspension.
Goodell said Wednesday night that a former federal judge picked by the commissioner and the players’ union to lead the arbitration will ultimately decide its rules.
Goodell says he doesn’t think testifying is his decision and it’s not something he’s addressed.
The union is appealing Ray Rice’s suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The former Baltimore Ravens running back was suspended after video of him hitting his then-fiancee in an elevator was publicly released.
Union officials said in announcing the appeal that Goodell and his staff would be essential witnesses.
The appeal will be heard by former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones.
Chargers
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Running back Ronnie Brown is back with the San Diego Chargers, his unemployment in the NFL having lasted just one week.
Brown calls it a “no-brainer” because he’s familiar with the system, having played for the Chargers in 2012 and 2013.
Brown was released last week by the Houston Texans. He says the Denver Broncos first contacted his agent on Monday evening, followed by the Chargers.
The Chargers need running back depth after Donald Brown sustained a concussion in Sunday’s 31-0 victory against the New York Jets.
Also Wednesday, center Rich Ohrnberger practiced for the first time in three weeks, although he was limited due to a back injury that forced him to miss the last two games.
The Chargers (4-1) visit AFC West rival Oakland (0-4) on Sunday.
49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers have found the offensive balance that helped the team reach the NFC championship game in each of the past three seasons.
The run game struggled in the first part of September, culminating with Frank Gore gaining 10 yards on six carries in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Now Gore is running as well as he has in recent memory, gaining over 100 yards in each of the past two games, both victories.
Center Daniel Kilgore says Gore is “the same person since I came in here my rookie year. He hasn’t lost a step.”
Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers will try to beat the heat and the Miami Dolphins this weekend.
The forecast on Sunday in Miami calls for a humid day with a high in the mid-80s and a chance of thunderstorms.
In other words, nothing like Wisconsin in October. Coach Mike McCarthy joked that he had to wear sunblock on Wednesday, with a chilly wind blowing and temperatures in the low 50s.
This is a franchise that has thrived in cold weather. The Packers haven’t played a regular season game with the temperature above 80 degrees since 2009, a 38-28 loss at Tampa.
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