A number of suspensions have been handed down by the NFL recently as the countdown to Week 1 continues. In the case of Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice, though, no league action is expected in the immediate future. 
“We continue to closely monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review,” a league statement regarding Rice reads (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “We will let the legal process play out before making any decisions.”
The NFL often takes that approach with criminal cases. Rice faces eight felony charges stemming from the hit-and-run incident he was involved in at the end of March. The 24-year-old was later accused of punching a photographer at a Dallas nightclub, but that incident is not expected to lead to charges being filed. The NFL has the option of placing Rice on the commissioner’s exempt list, but that move is generally reserved for cases of domestic violence (as most recently shown in the example of Browns rookie Mike Hall).
“We don’t anticipate that [Rice] would be placed on [the] commissioner’s exempt unless there’s a material change in the case,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed when speaking to the media (via Maske). That remark further paves the way for Rice to at least begin the 2024 campaign without issue as it pertains to a potential suspension. The league has yet to interview the SMU product as part of its disciplinary process, one which does not required criminal convictions for personal conduct violations to result in suspensions.
Rice had a strong rookie season in 2023, a year in which the Chiefs struggled to find consistent production from the receiver spot. Adding at that position was a key offseason priority for Kansas City, leading to Marquise Brown‘s free agent signing and the decision to select Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft. Brown is unlikely to be available for Week 1, so Rice could be positioned to handle a large workload in the passing game to kick off the 2024 campaign. How long he will stay eligible to suit up will remain unknown until further developments take place in his criminal case.
This is ridiculous. They are waiting for legal charges? The NFL and the team is not looking good in this. Makes you wonder is it only because it’s the chiefs? I would like to also know has the nfl or the team tried to work with him? Get him help in understanding situation and his responsibility to community, himself, league and team.
I don’t think it’s about the Chiefs. I think it’s about a commissioner and league that are ridiculously inconsistent. Did somebody have to die on that freeway to get that clown suspended?
Nah, it’s 100% because he’s a chef.
If he were a firefighter, this would have never happened.
This is exactly how the NFL handles 95% of these situations. There is no video like Ray Rice, nobody died like with Henry Rugs. This is just like the Alvin Kamara situation, he will miss anywhere from 2-8 games next season depending on how the court proceedings play out.
I am still amazed Kamara got only 3 games
I agree but it’s just how the NFL handles this stuff. To be honest it wouldn’t surprise me if Rice settles out of court with the victims and there is no really legal ramifications. Which means he pry only gets suspended 2-4 games.
The one thing he’s got working against him is the fact that it happened in Texas, and not in KC. Texas is pretty harsh on drivers that do that sort of thing, & I remember reading at the time of the accident that he’s facing something like 5 or so years because it involved street racing, a hit & run, & he left the scene of the accident. They’d rather make an example to discourage people from doing that sort of thing.
The NFL is just following their standard protocol. If they were to take action and that action prejudiced a jury then that wouldn’t be a good look either.
Jameson Williams places bets on college football at a team facility and gets 6 games.
Bad precedent. Any player given an immediate suspension will instantly point at this and be like look what he did and he was allowed to play thru it. So no I’m not serving my suspension eat it.
Any player issued a suspension should refuse to serve it and tell the media look how the NFL handled the Rice situation.
The nfl can suspend players with or without evidence. The fact he’s involved in not only one but two incidents he should be given 14 games and call it a day. 10 for the car crash pile up and 4 for assaulting the dude
Lmao nfl never change
The Refuge of a Scoundrel AKA Arrowhead Stadium.
Hunt family is part of the WEF. Enough said.
One of the many reasons why the mob wants the chefs to keep “winning”…
/corrupt chefs
That mob includes Mike Lupica, who drools over Patrick Mahomes because “It’s All About The Quarterback” and the Chiefs because they’re “World Champions of Murica, F@&k Yeah!”
Still waiting for Con Miller to get suspended for slapping his pregnant baby mama around
If he was on the Pats, he’d already be suspended for the year. It’s 100% because he’s on the chefs.
Nice coincidence. The Guardian had a story not so long ago that asked “Is something rotten at the heart of the Kansas City Chiefs?” Rashee Rice was at the top of the list — and KC was equated with the Patriots of Brady/Belichick.
It’s more of an owner snafu than anything…
I don’t think Rice is a chef even tho his career could be cooked, he’s a CHIEF and is going to play until the postseason where the league will suspend him when the games matter the most.
Good thing he didn’t smoke weed huh
So, some player is accused of smacking his wife and he gets eight games, this punk causes a wreck by street racing and then runs away and he’s still allowed to play/practice. Should have been suspended with no pay and sent home pending formal charges. Do these morons ever learn? Show them a video of Henry Ruggs and how his life is now. NFL is ridiculous, what are they waiting for?
Three-peat!!!!!!