Ozzie Newsome testified under oath Thursday in the Ray Rice appeal hearing that he heard Ray Rice tell Roger Goodell during his June 16 disciplinary hearing that he had hit his then-fiancée in a casino hotel elevator, two sources told "Outside the Lines."

What occurred in the June 16 hearing is key to Rice's chances for reinstatement, sources said. He was suspended indefinitely Sept. 8 for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy after a video of him hitting Janay and knocking her out at an Atlantic City casino was released publicly.

Goodell originally had suspended the running back for two games.

"Outside the Lines" quoted four sources in September who said that Rice had told Goodell he struck Janay -- a claim Goodell has denied, saying that Rice's account to him in the June 16 meeting was "ambiguous." Goodell spent more than two hours testifying Wednesday.