NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is looking to pass the buck and with good reason.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that Goodell has asked NFL owner to consider whether to give authority of deciding suspensions for players who violate the league's personal conduct policy to outside experts.
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Goodell sent a letter to NFL owners on Monday with the proposal that will be among the topics of discussion at a league meeting in New York on Wednesday, the Times reported. The meeting of owners and top league officials will be the first since the release of the Sept. 8 video showing former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancée (and now wife) Janay Palmer in an elevator of an Atlantic City casino in February.
Goodell originally gave Rice a two-game suspension for his domestic violence arrest, then said he thought his punishment was too lenient and created a rule mandating a six-game suspension for domestic violence cases.
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Shortly after that, the Rice video went public, the Ravens cut Rice and the league suspended him indefinitely.
"Should these decisions be made by a third party, or a panel of outsiders, or should they be made by the commissioner?" Goodell wrote, as reported by the Times.
He asked what role the NFL or its teams should have in the investigations into domestic violence and how much they should rely on law enforcement for guidance. Goodell also expressed concern about whether teams or the league should suspend players before their legal cases have been resolved. He added that the owners needed to consider whether to create a system for players that puts those involved in domestic violence disputes on leave with pay while their cases are resolved.
Goodell asked the owners to consider what role the commissioner should play. A day earlier, the NFL told ABC News in an exclusive interview that NFL security made several attempts - though some were misguided or half-hearted - to acquire the inside-the-elevate video of Rice and Palmer.
ABC News reported that conflicting reports exist over how extensive the NFL's attempts to acquire the video were.
Calls for Goodell's resignation have mounted. Though it appears Goodell won't step down, relinquishing jurisdiction over the handling of suspensions seems to be a wise, job-saving move.
Do you think an independent body should decide on suspensions for players who violate the NFL's personal conduct policy? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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