A significant update has surfaced regarding the timeline that led to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice agreeing to a six-game suspension to begin the 2025 NFL season.
Rice accepted the suspension on Wednesday as part of a settlement tied to his involvement in a high-speed crash in Dallas earlier in 2024. The NFL initially pushed for a suspension of at least 10 games, with a disciplinary hearing scheduled for September 30 before Judge Sue L. Robinson.
However, the NFL Players Association objected to a suspension of that length, citing a lack of precedent for such a severe penalty.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, several figures within the NFL’s leadership were dissatisfied that the hearing was scheduled so late—after the season had already begun. Florio reported that “more than one owner” complained and the NFL’s Management Council was frustrated with how the timing was handled.
Because of the delay, Rice lost the chance to present his case before Robinson prior to the season. This mattered, especially considering that former Jets player Brandin Echols received only a one-game suspension for a similar offense.
With the hearing delayed, Rice was placed in a position where negotiating a deal made the most sense. Accepting a six-game ban early in the season was preferable to risking a longer suspension that might have begun midseason or extended into the playoffs, especially if there had been an appeal.
While the league gave up at least four games from its original proposal, it resolved the matter before the season opener. Ultimately, the mismanaged timeline worked against Rice more than it did the league.
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