The expected appeal potentially could focus on whether Rice was improperly punished twice by the league for the same conduct, according to the source. The NFL initially suspended Rice for two games.
The league characterized the video as new evidence. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in the official notification to the union of the indefinite suspension that the video showed a “starkly different” sequence of events than what Rice and his representatives related to Goodell during a meeting in June.
Rice’s intention to appeal was first reported by ProFootballTalk.com.
The appeal is to be heard by Goodell or a person appointed by him. The union could ask for the appeal to be assigned to a person outside the league office, according to the source.
Rice was released last Monday by the Baltimore Ravens.