Keep in mind that there are actually three different considerations and points of view here from a legal/disciplinary standpoint:
1. The criminal justice system, through which Rice was allowed to cop a plea, would not face any jail time, and would have his record expunged if he completed a pre-trial intervention program.
2. The National Football League, which has some authority to discipline a player but learned today (as I predicted months ago) that this authority is not unlimited. The relationship between the NFL and individual players is governed by a collective bargaining agreement, and under the terms of that agreement the NFL is seriously constrained by what they can do to discipline a player who is physically capable of playing.
3. Individual NFL teams, who are the ones who actually sign contracts with their players and who actually serve as the players' employers (not the NFL).
Point #3 is critical here because even if the NFL cannot suspend a player indefinitely (again, I pointed this out months ago), an NFL team has a lot of latitude in canceling a player's contract for a number of reasons.
The arbiter today ruled that the NFL cannot suspend Rice indefinitely. Today's ruling does not, however, require the Baltimore Ravens to reinstate him. They cut him several weeks after this story began getting a lot of attention, and they have no obligation to put him back on their roster.
Never said the Ravens would have to re-instate Ray Rice. I only said that Ray Rice will eventually get his money for the entire current season. If not for the NFL adding to the original punishment, Ray Rice would still be playing.
Just look at what is happening with the Penn State v. NCAA case. The NCAA is going to lose; and lose BIG.
The arbitrator in the Ray Rice case said the NFL office officials, and Goodell in particular, lied during the arbitration hearing.