In July, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell served Rice with a two-game suspension for striking his then-fiance in an Atlantic City elevator in February. However, when a videotape of the actual incident became public in September, Goodell increased that suspension to indefinite. Rice appealed that decision, saying the league office had knowledge of and access to the incriminating videotape at the time of the initial punishment. Rice won that appeal and is currently available to be signed by any team.
Meanwhile, former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III is leading an investigation into whether the NFL actually did have the videotape earlier than its public release. According to two AP sources, Mueller has ordered nearly 500 employees in the NFL's New York offices to turn over phone and email records to Mueller.
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At issue are calls made from the NFL offices to a New Jersey area code. The Mueller investigation seeks to establish who, if anyone, in the NFL offices obtained and possibly viewed the incriminating videotape before it was made public. The AP report does not indicate whether the Mueller investigation's scope will go beyond the question of whether certain parties actually received the videotape and into, for instance, whether Goodell actually had the opportunity to view the tape.
Mueller's investigation is being overseen by John Mara, owner of the Giants, and Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers. The investigation's report is expected to be completed later this month.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter.
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