When Ray Rice is interviewed by NFL investigator Robert Mueller, the NFLPA’s investigator will be in the room.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Rice has agreed to a joint interview, in the interests of efficiency and equal access.
As a practical matter, it means that Mueller’s investigation won’t be finished in the immediate future. Packers CEO Mark Murphy said five days ago that the “hope” had been completion by this week’s ownership meetings. If Mueller still hasn’t interviewed Rice a full 25 days after Mueller was appointed, perhaps the hope should be that the investigation is done by the league meetings in March.
The joint interview also means that the NFLPA will have a front-row seat for Mueller’s interview of Rice, and the questions will give the union important insight into the angles and issues Mueller is pursuing. The NFLPA also will have an opportunity to assess Mueller’s overall approach to Rice. Will Mueller be accusatory in tone with the player the league contends lied about what happened in the Atlantic City elevator? Or will Mueller be detached and objective, with a Joe Friday effort to simply gather facts?
Rice would have been entitled to union representation when meeting with Mueller in any event. Having the NFLPA’s full investigative team present (if that’s what indeed happens) gives the union multiple sets of ears and eyes to scrutinize everything Mueller says and does.
It won’t be the last time Rice talks about the matter. With an appeal hearing looming, Rice will be testifying before former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, who was appointed this week to resolve the challenge to his indefinite suspension.
