NFL Commissioner Comes Under Increased Criticism for Handling of Domestic Abuse Situation - East Idaho News
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NFL Commissioner Comes Under Increased Criticism for Handling of Domestic Abuse Situation

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Getty 091014 RogerGoodell?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1410422779319Photo by Elsa/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — In the wake of the newest information about the Ray Rice domestic violence situation, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has come under increased criticism, with the National Organization for Women and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, questioning Goodell’s ability to handle the situation.

A statement released on Wednesday by NOW President Terry O’Neill declared that “the NFL has lost its way,” and that its problem is not isolated to the incident in which Ray Rice struck his wife in an elevator at Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., but that the league “has a violence against women problem.” O’Neill’s statement notes even more recent examples of NFL players being accused of domestic violence, including San Francisco 49ers player Ray McDonald who played in his team’s first game of the season despite facing felony domestic violence charges and Greg Hardy, who has also been allowed to continue playing after being convicted in July of choking and threatening his girlfriend.

“The only workable solution is for Roger Goodell to resign,” O’Neill says, “and for his successor to appoint an independent investigator with full authority to gather factual data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking within the NFL community, and to recommend real and lasting reforms.”

Blumenthal even used some of Goodell’s own words to criticize the commissioner. When doling out suspensions to New Orleans Saints players and coaches two years ago, Goodell claimed that “ignorance is not an excuse.” Blumenthal echoed those words, noting that the NFL “has an obligation to do better.”

“The current leadership of the NFL cannot be trusted to fairly, genuinely implement policies that address domestic violence,” Blumenthal said.


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