Goodell Press Conference Fails to Reassure Players

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In his first public comments in 10 days, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke for 45 minutes. To say the reactions were mixed would be a grave understatement.

He announced a personal conduct committee that will be in place by the Super Bowl to look at improving the personal conduct policy. Goodell acknowledged failures by himself and the league.

“Unfortunately over the past several weeks we have seen all too much of the NFL doing wrong. That starts with me,” said Goodell.

He also stated that “he got it wrong” on the Ray Rice case on “a number of levels”, and that the league “will get our house in order”. In terms of changing the personal conduct policy, Goodell said that he and NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith have talked about potential changes to the personal conduct policy, and will meet together starting next week, will both of them planning to meet outside experts to give ideas and insight. The phrase “everything is on the table” was repeated several times in terms of Goodell potentially having less power in conduct policy and enforcement. 

However, Goodell was not specific on certain topics and questions. When asked about what Ray Rice told him about the elevator incident, Goodell said Rice’s account was “inconsistent” with what was seen on the second video tape released by TMZ.

TMZ told Goodell at the press conference that they were able to get the second video tape with one phone call, while Goodell said that according to the league’s security department, there were attempts to get the video tape that ended in June.

The independent investigation by former FBI Director Robert Mueller has come under fire because of Mueller’s law firm, Wilmerhale, helped the league negotiate a multi-billion dollar contract extension with DirecTV. When asked about the appearance of impropriety, Goodell was stern in his belief that the investigation will be truly independent.

“You are now questioning the integrity of the (former) director of the FBI,” said Goodell. 

Partnerships with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and National Sexual Violence Resource Center were announced by Goodell. He also said NFL teams and league staff will have education sessions starting in the next month, and then training programs that are being “developed by a top group of experts”.

 On the Adrian Peterson alleged child abuse case, Goodell said “what we see so far is tragic”, but stressed that he wanted the facts of the case to come out.

The commissioner said that he has not considered resigning despite calls for him to resign. But during and after the press conference, current and former NFL players were critical of Goodell:

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