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WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says that for now the NFL's investigation into its handling of the domestic violence case involving running back Ray Rice is an appropriate response. When asked whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should resign over the way his office handled the incident, the California Democrat sidestepped the question. But she didn't rule out that Congress would reconsider the NFL's anti-trust exemption, which allows teams to negotiate radio and television broadcast rights together.  Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday that the outcome of the investigation "will be self-evident to the NFL." Pelosi also says the San Francisco 49ers, her hometown team, should not have let defensive end Ray McDonald play last weekend. McDonald was arrested last month on suspicion of domestic violence. Rice was originally handed a two-game suspension in July under the NFL's personal conduct policy after he was charged with assault following a Feb. 15 altercation with his then-fiancée in an Atlantic City casino elevator. The running back had already served the first game of that suspension when, on Sept. 8, a video surfaced showing Rice punching Janay Palmer, now his wife, in that elevator. The NFL then suspended him indefinitely shortly after the Baltimore Ravens terminated the running back's contract. Goodell and the Ravens say they never saw the video before Sept. 8. The NFL players' union appealed Rice's indefinite suspension Tuesday night. The NFLPA said that the collective bargaining agreement requires a hearing date be set within 10 days of the appeal notice. It also said the hearing will require a neutral arbitrator to determine what information was available to the NFL and when it was available. The NFL said Wednesday that Goodell never intended to personally hear Rice's appeal. Both the NFL and the players' association agree that Rice will remain suspended indefinitely while the appeal is resolved, league and union sources told ESPN's Ed Werder. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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