Goodell calls for new conduct policy
New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – In his first public comments since being besieged with criticism over his handling of a swarm of recent abuse cases, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced his intention to implement a new player conduct policy and have it in place prior to this year’s Super Bowl.
After acknowledging that he “got it wrong” in regards to the controversial case involving former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, Goodell said he plans to meet with NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith next week to discuss potential changes.
“There will be changes to our personal conduct policy. I know this will happen because we will make it happen. Nothing is off the table,” said Goodell. “They will have a set of clear and transparent rules for league and club personnel, owners and players. My goal is to complete this work by the Super Bowl.”
Among those potential revisions will be the formation of a committee designed to help establish and enforce the new policies.
The announcement comes as a response to a wave of negative publicity the NFL has generated over several incidents of domestic violence, most notably the ones involving Rice and Minnesota star running back Adrian Peterson, recently indicted by a Texas grand jury on allegations of physically abusing one of his children.
Goodell initially suspended Rice two games for an altercation with his then- fiancee, Janay Palmer, in an Atlantic City casino back in February, a ruling that drew a considerable backlash from both the media and public. The running back was ultimately released by the Ravens and given an indefinite league suspension, but only after new video footage emerged last week that showed Rice punching Palmer in a hotel elevator.
“I got it wrong in the handling of the Ray Rice matter. I am sorry for that,” Goodell remarked. “But now I will get it right and do whatever is necessary to accomplish that.
“The same mistakes can never be repeated. We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that we are thorough in our review process and that our conclusions are reliable. We will get our house in order first.”
Goodell also formally announced that the league will enter into long-term partnerships with two violence hotlines, outlined in a memo he sent to all 32 teams Thursday night.
Additionally, all league and team personnel will participate in education sessions on domestic violence and sexual assault in the next 30 days.
The public outcry over the Rice case resulted in a revamped domestic-violence policy that calls for a six-week suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second and promises awareness programs.
Other incidents involving domestic violence have come to the forefront as well. In the latest instance, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was arrested Wednesday on charges he assaulted his wife and was placed on the non-football illness list by the team.
That news broke just hours after the Vikings placed Peterson on the exempt list following his indictment last week in Texas on charges he abused his 4- year-old son with a tree branch.
And the Carolina Panthers said Wednesday that defensive end Greg Hardy chose to be placed on the exempt list while he awaits a jury trial after being convicted by a judge of assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend.
Categorized in: NFL