NEW YORK (AP) — The players' union today plans to appeal the indefinite suspension the NFL handed to Ray Rice last week.

NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah told The Associated Press yesterday "we are expecting to appeal before the deadline on Tuesday night." That deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Rice originally was suspended two games under the NFL's personal conduct policy for striking his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator. When videotape of that incident was made public and showed Rice punching his now-wife Janay, knocking her unconscious, the Baltimore Ravens released the running back.

Almost immediately after that, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made Rice's suspension indefinite.

Although he doesn't have a team, Rice remains a member of the NFLPA.

Rice can apply for reinstatement when he convinces Goodell that he is "addressing this issue." Rice can avoid prosecution and a criminal record by completing a pretrial intervention program, a resolution prosecutors said they agreed to after consulting with Janay Rice.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he isn't sure if Greg Hardy will play Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that the team hasn't considered releasing the Pro Bowl defensive end, who is involved in a domestic violence case.

Rivera says Hardy will continue to practice and attend team meetings, but he won't make a decision on if he plays until later this week.

Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats, but is appealing the ruling.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Adrian Peterson has issued a statement after being charged with child abuse, saying he's sorry for hurting his child.

Peterson issued his statement a few hours after the Vikings reinstated him to the team. The star running back was charged last weekend after he struck his 4-year-old son with a tree branch as a form of discipline earlier this summer.

Peterson says he has met with a psychologist and has to live with the fact that the discipline caused an injury he never intended to happen.

Peterson says he's not perfect, but also says "without a doubt I am not a child abuser."

NEW YORK (AP) — Three experts in domestic violence will serve as consultants to the NFL.

Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL') sent a memo to league officials saying the three women will help lead and shape the league policies and programs relating to domestic violence and sexual assault. He has been under heavy criticism for his handling of the domestic abuse case involving star running back Ray Rice.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL and the players' union are close to finalizing the drug policy changes they tentatively agreed upon last week. League and NFLPA attorneys and officials are reviewing the documents and could approve them this week. One key element is how the changes affect players currently under suspension, including Denver receiver Wes Welker's four-game ban and Browns receiver Josh Gordon's season-long punishment.

 

UNDATED (AP) — An MRI on Robert Griffin III's dislocated left ankle showed no broken bones. That leaves Washington coach Jay Gruden optimistic the quarterback could return this season. Gruden says Griffin will be in a cast for a few weeks, and then the team will have an idea when Griffin could return.

Without the need for surgery he could return in two months.

In other injury news from NFL Week 2:

— A person familiar with the situation says New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram has a broken hand. The person says the timeline for Ingram's return remains unclear. Saints coach Sean Payton says he's following his policy of not releasing injury information until the next NFL-required injury report, which for New Orleans this week is Wednesday afternoon.

— The San Diego Chargers say running back Ryan Mathews has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Coach Mike McCoy won't say how much time Mathews is expected to miss, other than "he'll be out for a little bit of time."

— The Chicago Bears say cornerback Charles Tillman will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his right triceps Sunday against San Francisco. The Bears left open the possibility of a comeback by placing Tillman on IR with a designation to return.

— Miami Dolphins running back Knowshon (NOH'-shawn) Moreno is expected to be sidelined for at least a month with a left elbow injury suffered in Sunday's loss to Buffalo. Miami has re-signed Daniel Thomas to shore up the position.

— Jacksonville will be without versatile tight end Marcedes Lewis for six to eight weeks because of an ankle injury. Lewis suffered a high-ankle sprain in Sunday's loss to Washington. Coach Gus Bradley says Lewis could end up on the injured reserve/designated to return.

— Arizona coach Bruce Arians says outside linebacker John Abraham will return to the Cardinals on Tuesday. Abraham left the team last Tuesday after sustaining a concussion in the Cardinals' season-opening victory over San Diego.

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