Goodell memo outlines NFL’s next steps

(SportsNetwork.com) – The NFL will enter into long-term partnerships with two violence hotlines amid a spate of abuse cases that have rocked the nation’s most popular sports league.

The partnerships were outlined in a memo by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that was sent to all 32 teams Thursday night.

In the memo, a copy of which was obtained by SportsNetwork.com on Friday, Goodell says all league and team personnel will participate in education sessions on domestic violence and sexual assault starting in the next 30 days.

“Starting this season, we will dedicate significant resources to raise awareness on the subjects of domestic violence and sexual assault, including support for victims,” Goodell says.

“These are by no means final steps. We will continue to work with experts to expand and develop long-term programs that raise awareness, educate, and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault both within the NFL and in our society in general.”

The memo follows Goodell’s letter to owners last month outlining 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.

Thursday’s memo says a partnership with the National Domestic Violence Hotline will yield “25 full-time advocates over the next few weeks that will result in an additional 750 calls a day being answered.”

Goodell says the NFL learned the recent string of abuse cases involving NFL stars had caused an 84-percent jump in calls over a an eight-day span ending Sept. 15. The organization says more than half of the calls went unanswered due to lack of staff.

The NFL will also partner with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and will support Loveisrespect, a 24-hour text chat service aiding young adults affected by dating abuse.

Goodell announced earlier this week that he had named four women to oversee the NFL’s policy on domestic violence.

He said in his August letter that he “didn’t get it right” when he suspended Ray Rice for two games in July after the Baltimore Ravens running back was arrested on a domestic-violence assault charge in February.

Rice was later cut by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL over a video that showed him hitting his then-fiancee in the face — a case that has become a byword for similar situations around the league as more teams have been forced to make decisions over players accused of assault.

In the latest case, 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 Minnesota Vikings placed star running back Adrian 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