Roger Goodell appoints Judge Barbara Jones to hear Ray Rice appeal

Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones has been appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to hear and decide the appeal filed by the NFL Players Association on behalf of former Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was released by Baltimore and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after a video showing him punching his then-fiancee was posted on TMZ.com Sept. 8.

The NFL and the NFLPA collaborated on the selection of Jones. A date for the hearing has not been set.

Jones served in the Southern District of New York from 1996-2013, having been appointed by President Bill Clinton. Before that, she was an attorney in the Department of Justice, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York and Chief Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan.

Jones currently is a partner in the law firm of Zuckerman Spaeder.

"We are grateful to Judge Jones for taking on this role," Goodell said. "She will have our full cooperation as she hears and decides this appeal."

Meanwhile, safety/special teamer C.J. Spillman will continue to play for the Cowboys while he's under investigation for an alleged sexual assault in Grapevine, Texas, but coach Jason Garrett indicated that won't be the case if he is charged.

Grapevine police have said Spillman is involved in a sexual assault investigation. No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, which reportedly occurred at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center.

"I'm not going to make any comment on an investigation where there have been no arrests or charges made," Garrett said on Thursday. "Having said that, we've been very clear with our team about consequences there will be if there is a situation where charges or arrests are made for a crime."

The Santa Clara (California) District Attorney's office said it has received the domestic violence case involving 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald. The office made the announcement on Twitter. "Prosecutors will review, decide whether or not to file criminal charges, or seek further investigation," the announcement said.