Latest On Ray Rice Incident
9:59pm: Goodell announced that former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation on the Rice incident, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Mueller’s investigation will be overseen by NFL owners John Mara of the Giants and Art Rooney of the Steelers, and the final report will be made public (link).
The league has hired independent investigators for conflicts in the past, including the Jonathan Martin/Richie Incognito case of last year and Chris Kluwe‘s situation with the Vikings.
7:06pm: Senate Commerce Committee chairman Jay Rockefeller is mobilizing members to hold hearings on the NFL domestic violence issue, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter).
6:15pm: When asked how the NFL will look into the new report from the AP, a source told Norah O’Donnell of CBS (on Twitter) that the league’s “security department will be doing everything we can to determine if this is true.” An NFL exec told O’Donnell (link) that the AP report doesn’t contradict what Goodell said but “if there’s a delivery sitting under someone’s desk there will be consequences.”
6:13pm: A source tells Mark Maske of the Washington Post (on Twitter) that Goodell remains adamant that he won’t resign.
5:56pm: According to Josh Margolin, Darren Rovell, and Aaron Katersky of ABC News, the Revel casino told the Ravens to ask Rice’s lawyer for a copy of the video, but the team never followed through on that.
Meanwhile, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, team president Dick Cass, and GM Ozzie Newsome sat down with Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun and discussed the situation. Cass detailed the organization’s efforts to obtain a copy of the video, which included calling the casino, the prosecutor’s office and the New Jersey state police. Rice’s lawyer, however, was not in that list of people contacted for the footage.
4:07pm: On the heels of commissioner Roger Goodell issuing a memo to team owners and execs reiterating that the league was unable to view or obtain the elevator footage of Ray Rice‘s attack on his then-fiancée, a law enforcement official now says that he sent an NFL executive a copy of the video in April, writes Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press.
According to the AP report, the law enforcement official played a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number in which a female voice confirms the video arrived, expresses thanks, and says, “You’re right. It’s terrible.” Although the law enforcement official wasn’t legally authorized to released the video, he tells the AP that he shared it with the NFL because he wanted the league to see it before deciding on Rice’s punishment.
Goodell and league officials have repeatedly stated that they tried to view the elevator footage, requesting it from multiple police departments, but were unable to obtain it. In the wake of the AP’s report, an NFL spokesman tells Mike Garafalo of FOX Sports (Twitter link) that the league has “no knowledge” of anyone from its office viewing the video, and will “look into” the matter.
Needless to say, it would be a significant blow for the NFL and for Goodell if it turns out league executives had indeed viewed the recently-leaked video months ago. While a seemingly half-hearted and unsuccessful attempt to obtain the video reflects poorly on the NFL, it would be far more damaging for league officials if they viewed the footage, decided on merely a two-game suspension for Rice, and then tried to cover their tracks this week by lying about what they knew.
Goodell Issues Memo On Rice Investigation
Roger Goodell On Ray Rice Situation
In an interview with Norah O’Donnell of CBS, commissioner Roger Goodell gave his first interview since the new footage of the Ray Rice incident leaked to the public. Goodell, who has taken a great deal of criticism in the last couple of days over his handling of the situation, maintains that he never saw the second tape before it was released by TMZ.
“We had not seen any videotape of what occurred in the elevator. We assumed that there was a video, we asked for video, we asked for anything that was pertinent, but we were never granted that opportunity,” Goodell said.
Goodell went on to take accountability for how the situation has been handled and said that as commissioner, he is the one who is responsible for that. Meanwhile, when asked if Rice will be barred from the NFL for good, Goodell didn’t rule out an eventual return for the Rutgers product.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has issued a letter to the team’s PSL holders and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has republished it. In the letter, the owner admits his own shortcomings.
“Seeing that video changed everything,” Bisciotti said. “We should have seen it earlier. We should have pursued our own investigation more vigorously. We didn’t and we were wrong.”
Latest On Drug Policy Talks
SUNDAY, 10:20am: Citing a source with knowledge of the situation, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes that the NFL and NFLPA moved farther apart in their drug policy talks on Saturday night. The earliest any deal could happen would be tomorrow or Tuesday, but this recent development could delay such an agreement. However, as Florio writes, “Look for the talks to continue and a deal to remain possible unless and until one side or the other completely shuts down the negotiation process.”
According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, there would be a breakdown in the process if the the NFL insists on the right to discipline players for DUI arrests prior to due process in the legal system. If that happens, then the NFLPA will not agree to a comprehensive drug policy.
SATURDAY, 6:00pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk provides a handful of updates on the drug policy talks, writing that the league is proposing a one-game deactivation for any player or other team employee (including owners) who is arrested for DUI. In other words, an arrest without a conviction wouldn’t result in a suspension or lost pay, though the NFL would like first-time offenders to face a minimum two-game suspension after the conclusion of the legal process.
Per Florio (Twitter links), the ball is currently in the NFL’s court to respond to the NFLPA’s latest proposal, but a new agreement won’t be in place until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, so any current suspensions will stand for this weekend at least.
SATURDAY, 11:50am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the NFL and player’s union continue to work towards an agreement, and that Sunday is a soft deadline. Mark Maske of The Washington Post tweets that the two sides are trying to “complete something” today.
SATURDAY, 10:42am: We’ve heard whispers over the past couple of days that the NFL and the player’s union are diligently working on a new league drug policy. A league source tells Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that an announcement could come at any time.
As Florio writes, the agreement would focus on the NFL using players’ blood test to check for the use of human growth hormone. Additionally, there would be changes in the league’s substance-abuse policy; a positive marijuana test will now be based on a higher grading-scale (which could affect Browns wideout Josh Gordon). The league will also consider offseason use of amphetamines a violation of the substance-abuse policy (which could affect Broncos receiver Wes Welker).
Florio also reports that the two sides agreed on a new deal regarding human grown hormone appeals. Any appeal for a positive PED or HGH test will now be heard through a third-party arbitrator, as opposed to commissioner Roger Goodell. Florio writes that the league is requesting the right to suspend players arrested for DUIs before their legal cases are cleared up in court.
There were reports yesterday suggesting that the player’s union refused an offer from the NFL to erase Gordon’s suspension in exchange for a resolution on the HGH testing, and Florio clarifies those rumors. NFLPA spokesperson George Atallah told PFT that the deal was never offered:
“The union would never negotiate an entire substance-abuse policy or PED policy based on one player.”
AFC Notes: Rice, Browns, Jaguars
Ray Rice tried to clear the air in a recent press conference, but that won’t stop the NFL from penalizing the Pro-Bowl running back under the league’s personal-conduct policy. The Ravens are prepared for a multiple-game suspension and Rice will meet soon with commissioner Roger Goodell, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
Team President Dick Cass spoke on the matter: “I’m assuming he will meet with the commissioner at some point in the near future and make a decision about what discipline, if any, is appropriate. I’m not going to speculate. The commissioner is going to decide that. I’m going to leave it to the commissioner.”
Teammate Torrey Smith added: “You do something that draws attention like this, it deserves punishment. Whatever it may be, whether it’s fines or suspensions, I can’t really say. Something happens like that and, obviously, it doesn’t look good on him on him or the league or the organization. Whatever punishments they dish out, he’ll handle it and we’ll handle it as a team and we’ll accept it.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes from the AFC…
- When asked if the Browns could re-sign Armanti Edwards to be the team’s return man, ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon squashed the idea.
- Excluding Red Bryant and Tyson Alualu, ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco says that Chris Clemons and Andre Branch are the only defensive ends that are locks to make the Jaguars roster. DiRocco believes the competition will ultimately be between Gerald Rivers and Chris Smith, unless the duo outplays Jason Babin in camp.
- DiRocco also points out that there are only seven Jaguars remaining from Gene Smith‘s four drafts.
Draft Notes: Medicals, Manziel, Lee, Pats
Medical re-checks for draft prospects are underway, writes NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread. Notable prospects getting a second look from doctors include Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger, Auburn running back Tre Mason, Indiana receiver Cody Latimer, Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Notre Dame defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt.
In other draft-related news and notes…
- Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel will be a top-10 pick, according to all the evaluators NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has spoken to (via Twitter).
- USC receiver Marqise Lee has visited the Patriots, Lions, Ravens, Panthers, Dolphins, Saints and Jets, according to Aaron Wilson at National Football Post. Lee racked up 118 receptions for 1,712 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, but his production fell off in 2013 when he battled injuries and was without the help of Matt Barkley and Robert Woods. Lee does not have elite speed, but is a talented playmaker with return ability. He’s projected as a first-round pick.
- Center is among the Patriots’ draft needs, and Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com looks at six prospects who could be available to the team in rounds 2-7.
- Florida outside linebacker Ronald Powell, a talented albeit inconsistent prospect, has visited with the Raiders, conducted private workouts for the Patriots, Lions and Colts, and drawn interest from the Eagles and Saints, according to Wilson at NFP.
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league will consider expanding the draft from three days to four, via NFL.com.
NFL Paid Roger Goodell $44MM+ Last Year
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell received another significant bump in salary during the last fiscal year, according to Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal. Kaplan reports that the NFL paid Goodell a total of $44.2MM in the year that ended March 31, 2013, a figure that includes $9.1MM in deferred pay.
A year ago, word broke that Goodell had earned nearly $30MM during the previous fiscal year, a salary that raised plenty of eyebrows since it came on the heels of a league lockout. Prior to the league’s new labor deal, Goodell’s top pay was $11.5MM, according to Kaplan. The league, which defended Goodell’s pay, stressed that his actual earnings for the year are closer to $35MM, with $9MM+ of that overall amount coming from deferred bonuses and pension from the 2011 lockout period.
“Goodell’s compensation reflects our pay-for-performance philosophy and is appropriate given the fact that the NFL under his consistently strong leadership continues to grow,” wrote NFL team owners Arthur Blank (Falcons), Robert Kraft (Patriots), and Jerry Richardson (Panthers) in a letter that Kaplan says was to be emailed to the rest of the league’s owners this afternoon.
Despite the justification from the league’s compensation committee, Goodell’s massive salary doesn’t do much to dissuade the notion that the 2011 labor deal was one that favored the league’s management owners, an agreement for which the commissioner is now being reward. It also figures to raise more questions about the NFL’s non-profit status.
According to Kaplan, Goodell’s earnings for last year almost certainly make him sports’ highest-paid executive, likely surpassing MLB commissioner Bud Selig.