Sources are saying that former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is considering filing a lawsuit against the NFL after he was punished twice for the same offense.

According to relatives of the NFL superstar, Rice and his wife, Janay Palmer, are thinking of taking legal action against the league, citing double jeopardy as cause.

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Rice had pleaded guilty for third-degree aggravated assault on Palmer in May. Video evidence showed the running back dragging his then-fiancée out of a casino elevator in Atlantic City. As punishment, he was suspended for two games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

However, a new video showing Rice attacking Janay surfaced last week, courtesy of TV company TMZ. It showed Rice horrifyingly punching Palmer in the face and rendering her unconscious inside the elevator. The Ravens then decided to release and cut off Rice's $35 million contract. The NFL also gave Rice an indefinite suspension.

Sources claimed that the Players Association and Rice could appeal the league's punishment as early as Monday.

New York Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gilibrand said on a Sunday interview with CBS "Face the Nation" that the case could spur congressional actions.  

"If the NFL doesn't police themselves, then we will be looking more into it. I wouldn't be surprised if we had hearings."

Gilibrand also stated that the NFL was handling the situation in an "outrageous" and "awful" manner.

"If (Goodell) lied to the American people, then he has to step down, because he won't have the force of authority to address these issues," added Gilibrand.

Goodell initially admitted that he was wrong in handling the Rice situation last July, drawing public outrage as a result. The controversy intensified with the second video's appearance last week.

The NFL denied any knowledge of the second Rice video but reports from the Associated Press say otherwise.  Goodell then decided to assign former FBI director Robert Mueller III as an independent investigator of the case in order to regain public trust. 

TagsNFL, ray rice, Baltimore Ravens