With the report by the Associated Press that the NFL did receive the CCTV video of Ray Rice punching his now-wife Janay Rice in April, the drumbeat that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell should resign grows ever louder. In response, according to Ian Rapoport late Wednesday night, Goodell has announced that ex-FBI director Robert Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation.
The AP reported that it had heard a 12-second voicemail dated April 9, 2014 from an NFL executive thanking the police for sending the video and confirming that it was received. The female voice, purportedly the NFL executive, stated that “You’re right. It’s terrible.” This report, if true, directly contradicts the statement made by Goodell to CBS on Tuesday that “no one in the NFL, in my knowledge” had seen the video. Goodell’s questionable position was reaffirmed by an NFL spokesman today, who said that that “We are not aware of anyone in our office who possessed or saw the video” before it was released on Monday.
(For more on the original reports from Monday and Wednesday, and the outrage that ensued, be sure to read Anthony Murphy’s article ‘Ray Rice: How We All Got It Wrong’ and Nick Frost’s article ‘Report: NFL Given Rice Video in April.’)
The growing problem for Goodell is that there is now enough evidence that he is outright lying or his office conducted a very inept investigation at best. If Goodell is telling the truth, the NFL didn’t bother to check out basic facts that any investigator would prudently confirm before any decision was released. In either scenario, Goodell’s authority and credibility have been significantly weakened.
The NFL owners’ executive committee has to be considering when and if some action needs to be taken against Goodell. They may even be behind the impetus to conduct an outside investigation by an ex-FBI director. Yes, Goodell has made the owners a lot of money. But frankly, is that all due to Goodell? The NFL product is making the money and the loss of the public’s confidence in Goodell as a competent commissioner may ultimately affect their bottom line. The owners could clearly make money with another commissioner who will not be constantly under the cloud of suspicion of either dishonesty or incompetence.
While the owners could fine or suspend Goodell, it would seem cleaner to request his resignation based on all that has transpired. However, almost reminiscent of then President Richard M. Nixon, Mark Manske tweeted that Goodell “remains adamant he won’t resign. Never.”
It seems like only yesterday when Goodell came in with a wave of good tidings and emphasis that playing in the NFL was a privilege, not a right. Remember when Goodell suspended Adam “Pacman” Jones for one year, which was the first time a player was suspended for an offense other than substance abuse (multiple arrests, but no convictions)? Remember when Goodell fined and almost suspended Brett Favre for alleged improper behavior and texts with former New York Jets Jenn Sterger (no arrest or conviction)? Remember when Goodell suspended Ben Roethlisberger for four games for alleged sexual assault allegations (no arrests or convictions)?
That was the NFL commissioner whom we thought was going to clean up the sport for the better. Employ better citizens and increase profits. Unfortunately, Goodell has lost his way. While it seems incredible that Goodell would put his reputation at risk for Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens, it seriously seems at this point that he and his office did not take the Rice investigation seriously and they are now engaged in a cover-up to some degree.
Goodell needs to bare all now and be completely transparent in explaining why he and his office did not conduct a thorough investigation of the Ray Rice incident. He needs to stop hiding behind ludicrous and ultimately untrue statements that the NFL only requests evidence from law enforcement sources. It is a positive that Goodell has ordered an independent investigation, but fair or not, the damage to his reputation and integrity may already be irreparable.
Did the NFL need law enforcement in the request for video tapes from the New England Patriots in ‘Spy Gate’? Did the NFL rely only on law enforcement sources in the New Orleans ‘Bounty Gate’? No, in both cases, the NFL investigated and obtained evidence from team sources or NFL Films sources. In short, the NFL conducted investigations and requested evidence from all relevant sources.
It is inconceivable that the NFL did not try harder to obtain all video tapes taken at the casino or obtain the actual inside the elevator video tape. There was already a video tape showing that Janay Rice was knocked unconscious, providing plenty of reason to find out more of what occurred inside the elevator. The investigation by Mueller will hopefully answer those questions.
The obfuscating and hiding behind platitudes by Goodell and the NFL is distressing, but the independent investigation is encouraging. However, based on the damage done already to Goodell’s reputation, it is likely the bell will continue to toll for thee Roger Goodell to resign as NFL commissioner.
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