NFL: Goodell told to testify in Rice's appeal

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been told to testify in Ray Rice's appeal of his indefinite suspension, a person familiar with the case told the Associated Press on Wednesday night.

Former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones, the neutral arbiter selected to hear the appeal, informed the parties of her decision Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the appeal have not been made public.

Since this isn't a criminal case, it's uncertain whether Goodell will actually testify in a private arbitration. He said earlier this month he would leave the decision to Judge Jones.

"We will continue to respect Judge Jones' confidentiality order regarding this proceeding," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email.

NFL lawyers have argued that Goodell shouldn't have to testify and instead were offering testimony from Jeff Pash, the NFL's general counsel, and Adolpho Birch, the NFL's vice president for labor policy. Pash and Birch were with Goodell when he met with Rice's side in June to talk about what happened when the former Pro Bowl running back hit his then-fiancée in an elevator.

Rice described details of the incident at that meeting. Goodell has called Rice's description "ambiguous," while Rice's side has maintained he gave exact details.

The hearing will be held Nov. 5 and 6, two people familiar with the case said.

Chiefs' Charlespasses tests

Jamaal Charles has passed a battery of tests and does not show symptoms of a concussion, the Chiefs said Wednesday, one day after the star running back told a radio show he saw "light bulbs" after a hit in Kansas City's win over San Diego.

Charles took a vicious blow from Brandon Flowers when he dove into the end zone in the Chiefs' 23-20 win Sunday. Flowers received a concussion from the collision and missed the rest of the game, but Charles popped up and trotted to the sideline, where he was met by team trainers.

He played the rest of the game, but Tuesday, Charles told ESPN Radio he saw "light bulbs around my eyes" a few plays later and that he avoided going through NFL concussion protocol.

Flowers has been ruled out of the Chargers' game Thursday at Denver.

Lambeau returnfor Favre on hold

Brett Favre's first visit to Lambeau Field since his retirement is on hold because of Bart Starr's health.

Favre had hoped to attend the Green Bay Packers' Nov. 9 game against the Chicago Bears and participate with Starr in a pregame coin toss. But Starr, 80, is recovering from two strokes and a mild heart attack he suffered last month.

"We tried to set it up so we could be there with Bart, but it's not looking good," Favre said.

Odds and ends

Panthers coach Ron Rivera says the NFL informed him that linebacker Luke Kuechly was wrongfully ejected from Sunday's game against the Packers for contact with an official. … Colts linebacker Erik Walden was fined $27,562 after being ejected for making contact with an official during Sunday's victory over the Bengals. … The Titans signed tight end Richard Gordon, filling the roster spot freed up by the trade of linebacker Akeem Ayers to the Patriots.

From wire reports