I have a feeling that this isn’t going to end too well for NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell. Just hours after the executive sent a memo to all 32 teams around the league indicating that the NFL had not seen or acquired the tape of Ray Rice beating his then fiancee back in February, comes this doozy from the Associated Press.
BREAKING: AP Source: Law enforcement official sent copy of Ray Rice tape to NFL executive in April
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 10, 2014
A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive three months ago, while league officers have insisted they didn’t see the violent images until this week.
The person played The Associated Press a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number on April 9 confirming the video arrived. A female voice expresses thanks and says: “You’re right. It’s terrible.”
The law enforcement official, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, says he had no further communication with any NFL employee and can’t confirm anyone watched the video. The person said they were unauthorized to release the video but shared it unsolicited, because they wanted the NFL to have it before deciding on Rice’s punishment.
While there is no clear indication of who the executive might be in this report, it’s a damning piece of information for Goodell, who has clearly stated that no one within the league office had seen the tape and that it never hads its hands on the video evidence.
If this is indeed a cover up on Goodell’s part, he can pretty much send in his resignation to the league office in New York City right now.
The criticism that this Associated Press report may bring to Goodell and Co. could very well be too much for him to overcome at this point.
Photo: USA Today