Honest question--aren't the obligated to contest it, since Rice is a member? Not trying to be funny--serious question.
In truth I have no idea. I asked that same question on an NFL board i post on as well. I would assume they have to for purposes of legal precedent (supposing their isn't some rule that the commish can simply change his mind and lengthen a suspension later on without any increase in charges. Which would seem quite unlikely that the NFLPA would allow such a stipulation to take place) in the event Goodell decided to do this to someone not so universally despised at the time of the addtiional indefinite suspension.
But then again they would receive serious political backlash right now for fighting for Rice, and frankly most reactions being reported are that everybody is insanely disgusted and wants Rice to Adios.
Like I said though, all emotions lessen with time and space from the issue, and if Vick (who actually went ot jail) and Stallworth (who killed a man) can get reinstated and play again, Rice will certainly be able to do so. Now last year he looked like his NFL legs left him, and he shaun alexander'd, if thats the case he may never get to play again not because of this incident but because he is well and truly done as a football player.
Also I am willing to bet dollars to donuts, that as horrific as what Rice did was, an NFL player has whipped the crap out of "his" woman much much worse than what Rice did and because he didn't get caught on tape will get to continue on with his career uninterrupted. In reality the moral of this story is not "do not commit crimes against women" but do not get caught doing it on camera. No one will say it but thats the truth.
Here is this link
http://deadspin.com/whose-idiotic-ray-rice-comments-look-especially-awful-t-1632033541
this comment is so unbelievably true by a commenter there. It is somewhat adjusted for memories sake. because I cant seem to find it to copy it over.
"Did they think that she was just whipping his a$$ and he stood their stoically and heroically taking this abuse until he no longer had any choice but to take one swing at her in self defense knocking her senseless? If they did they are morons! this video is exactly what I expected, and so did many others. They were just holding off on these things until the "game tape" of the incident could be released for proper review. It's such a load of horse ****t. If the tape never came to light nothing would ever have been done about it beyond a 2 game suspension the commish admitted "he got wrong." Ultimately everybody had a really strong idea of how it went down, and simply because they didnt want it to be true they fought like heck to assume it wasnt because he is a star, if this had been [insert name of random UDFA trying to make the team here ] the guy would have been canned and sent on his merry way never to receive another shot at the pros. What's that line from the santa claus? Seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing? everyone out there was undergoing the "i don't believe he could have done this, therefore he didn't" thought process and as such another woman was so battered and abused by her man that she actually got up off the mat and married the guy. Whether it's because she has nightingale syndrome or she simply believes the money is worth it this was allowed to happen instead of this being thrown in jail the like the criminal he is."
can't say I have much if anything to disagree with the guy who said it.