The NFL hasn't banned him for life. They suspended him "indefinitely," which is not going to stay in place. There's no provision under the NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement for an indefinite suspension, and this sort of thing wouldn't be permitted under the law in any case.
I suspect the NFL is preparing to work behind the scenes to pay Ray Rice a substantial settlement to just go away and never show his face anywhere near an NFL game in the future.
Or maybe the Ravens will wear "domestic violence awareness" helmets in game #7.
Do you understand WHY the NFL, which is already a fabulous wealth generator, has become so obsessed with marketing to, and it's reputation among, young women?
Girls are bored by football (for the most part). They don't "get" it.
Roger Goodell, who has already made his padróns billionaires by running a sanitized thug show that appeals to young and even middle-aged white men is constant having media events regarding breast cancer (when the NFL could and should promote prostate cancer funding) and other issues/images to appeal to women.
They're not going to get much more of a female audience no matter what, so, what's it all about?