National Football League

Ray Rice, NFLPA retain high-profile attorneys to dig into NFL

Published Sep. 25, 2014 12:18 a.m. ET

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After weeks of facing public and media scrutiny for its handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence case, the NFL on Wednesday learned that two more parties have turned to some high-powered help who are sure to do plenty of scrutinizing of their own.

First, the NFL players union announced it hired former federal prosecutor Richard Craig Smith to oversee its investigation into the case. Then, multiple outlets reported that Rice hired attorney Peter Ginsberg to lead the former running back's appeal of his indefinite suspension.

Smith will look at how the league and the Baltimore Ravens handled issues of due process and discipline, as well as look at the conduct of the league office and the Ravens that led to the indefinite suspension Commissioner Roger Goodell gave to Rice.

The Ravens also cut Rice after video of him punching his then-fiancée in a hotel elevator went public. Originally, Goodell had given Rice a two-game suspension.

Rice and the NFL Players Association have appealed his suspension.

A former federal prosecutor, Smith is the head of regulatory and governmental investigation for the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.

The union said in a statement Wednesday it "will request that the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens cooperate in the interest of transparency."

Ginsberg represented former Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma during his appeal in the Bountygate case in 2012, and currently represents former Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner, who was fired by the club in the wake of the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying scandal.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report

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