The NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell may have some more explaining to do. Goodell has repeatedly said that no one in the NFL saw the elevator footage of Ray Rice striking his then-fiancee Janay Palmer before the tape was released Monday morning. But if the latest report is true, Goodell could find his position in serious jeopardy.
The Associated Press reports that an NFL executive was sent the Ray Rice video in April:
BREAKING: AP Source: Law enforcement official sent copy of Ray Rice tape to NFL executive in April
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 10, 2014
If this turns out to be the case, the NFL will be in serious trouble with the fans because it would mean that Goodell flat out lied to the public. ESPN reports that President of the National Organization for Women, Terry O’Neill, has already for Goodell’s resignation:
The NFL has lost its way. It doesn’t have a Ray Rice problem; it has a violence against women problem […] The only workable solution is for Roger Goodell to resign and for his successor to appoint an independent investigator with full authority to gather factual data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking within the NFL community and to recommend real and lasting reforms.
O’Neill’s statement was released before this latest piece of information came out. Rice has already had his contract terminated and the NFL has suspended him indefinitely.
The NFL owners may soon have to have a serious discussion about the future of Goodell as Commissioner. It seems nearly impossible that he would be able to regain everyone’s trust after all of this damage has been done.
