Wednesday’s preliminary victory by the NFLPA and Ray Rice didn’t consist only of a requirement that Commissioner Roger Goodell testify in the appeal hearing regarding the indefinite suspension imposed on Rice. The union and Rice also secured the ability to question two key members of the Ravens organization.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, former U.S. Judge Barbara S. Jones has required Ravens G.M. Ozzie Newsome and Ravens president Dick Cass to testify at the appeal hearing, which currently is set for November 5-6.
Judge Jones declined to require testimony from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, coach John Harbaugh, and director of security Darren Sanders.
The roster of witnesses expected to testify at the hearing also includes Ray Rice, NFL senior V.P. of labor policy and government affairs Adolpho Birch, and NFL V.P. of security Jeff Miller. It’s also possible that Janay Palmer Rice will testify, given that she, Ray, and Goodell reportedly had a private discussion regarding the incident that resulted initially in a two-game suspension, and then in an indefinite suspension.