Goodell promises change in conduct

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks during a news conference addressing the rash of NFL players involved in domestic violence, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks during a news conference addressing the rash of NFL players involved in domestic violence, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

NEW YORK -- As calls increased for the NFL to adequately address its recent rash of off-field violence, Commissioner Roger Goodell finally spoke publicly about the issue Friday, apologizing for his role in poor decision-making and promising a revamped personal conduct policy to address future cases.

Goodell began by reiterating that his initial response to former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice's domestic violence incident was wrong.

"I made a mistake," he said. "I am not satisfied with the process we went through. I am not satisfied with the conclusion."

Goodell said he hasn't considered resigning, something various groups have called for in the past week.

"I am focused on doing my job," he said. "I understand when people are critical of my performance, but we have work to do. I am proud of the opportunity we have to make a difference and do the right thing. We've acknowledged that we need to make changes, and now we have to get those changes going."

One of the changes is the formation of a personal conduct committee, which Goodell said he hopes to have in place before the Super Bowl. He didn't address whether he would be a part of disciplinary decisions under the new structure.

Goodell had not spoken publicly since the video of Rice punching his fiancee, Janay Palmer, became public and created the firestorm that led to Friday's news conference. His silence seemed to only increase the criticism aimed at the league for mishandling Rice's case, as well as two other domestic violence cases and child abuse allegations against Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.

Goodell offered little in the way of specifics in the news conference.

"We will make changes to the personal conduct policy," he said. "I'm sure of that because we will make it happen. Nothing is off the table."

Goodell did not explain the ins and outs of his admitted bobbling of the Rice investigation, offering no explanation for the reports that the NFL had access to the second video much earlier than the public saw it. He said the league's investigation, which will be headed by the former FBI head Robert Mueller, would uncover what happened. He promised his cooperation.

"I believe in accountability," he said.

Then Goodell did not answer a question from a reporter from TMZ, the website that first published the video, on why the NFL could not get the video from the casino where the incident happened.

"We got it with one phone call," the reporter said. "You have a whole department."

Goodell sent a letter to teams Thursday night announcing part of the league's initiative was to begin supporting both the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and to mandate education and training for all players and staff on preventing abuse.

Goodell's letter was the league's follow-up to his recent promise to increase the league's commitment to fight domestic and sexual violence.

In the time of Goodell's silence, the pressure has grown on the NFL as the cases have piled up.

Procter & Gamble joined the list of sponsors distancing themselves from the league as its image faltered, pulling its Crest toothpaste brand out of a campaign in conjunction with the league's breast cancer awareness month. It is a major blow to the league's biggest effort on behalf of female fans, when players wear pink shoes, arm bands or other equipment during games in October.

It follows unusually critical public statements from sponsors, including Anheuser-Busch, McDonald's and Visa, regarding the league's handling of Rice's suspension and the other cases.

Goodell said Friday he did not believe the league was close to losing a sponsor.

Goodell's letter to teams Thursday night was his first large-scale communication since last week. In it, he promised the league would be committed to battling domestic and sexual violence on a large scale.

He said in the letter that calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline had increased 84 percent during the week of Sept. 8, the week the Rice video became public, but that the hotline did not have enough staff to answer all the calls. He said the league would provide financial support so the hotline could hire 25 more advocates.

He also promised money and promotional support to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, including its Loveisrespect project, a text-messaging hotline for young adults dealing with dating abuse.

The league also said educational programs for all 32 teams would begin within the next 30 days on preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence. There are also plans for a public awareness campaign, although the recent spate of cases involving players seems to have accomplished that.

Sports on 09/20/2014

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