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NFL, players’ union to alter personal conduct policy NFL, players’ union to alter personal conduct policy
(35 minutes later)
The NFL plans to work with its players’ union to make changes to the sport’s personal conduct policy, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced during a news conference Friday. The NFL plans to work with its players’ union to make changes to the sport’s personal conduct policy, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced in a news conference Friday during which he faced questions regarding his handling of recent off-field behavior by the league’s players.
Responding to the recent off-field troubles of players, Goodell said multiple times that he had made mistakes in the handling of recent high-profile scandals. While avoiding giving answers to some specific questions, Goodell said multiple times that he had made mistakes in the handling of recent high-profile scandals.
“I let myself down,” he said. “I let everybody down.”“I let myself down,” he said. “I let everybody down.”
Goodell also said he does not intend to resign and has not considered doing so. He said he was establishing a committee that would involve outside experts on domestic abuse to consider what changes should be made in the league’s player conduct policy. He said his goal was to have a new policy in place by the Super Bowl in February.
“I understand when people are critical of your performance, but we have a lot of work to do,” Goodell said. “… I believe we have the support of the owners. That has been clear to me. They do expect us to do a better job.”
He said he was establishing a committee to consider what changes should be made. He said his goal was to have a new policy in place by the Super Bowl in February.
Goodell’s comments come after the league suspended Ray Rice first for two games, then indefinitely, following a domestic violence incident. Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy agreed this week to be placed on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list, meaning they will be paid while not playing as their legal cases proceed.Goodell’s comments come after the league suspended Ray Rice first for two games, then indefinitely, following a domestic violence incident. Adrian Peterson and Greg Hardy agreed this week to be placed on the exempt-commissioner’s permission list, meaning they will be paid while not playing as their legal cases proceed.
The NFL previously announced that it would toughen its penalties for players involved in domestic violence cases, to a six-game suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban reviewable after one year for a repeat offense.The NFL previously announced that it would toughen its penalties for players involved in domestic violence cases, to a six-game suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban reviewable after one year for a repeat offense.
“I got it wrong in the handling of the Ray Rice matter, and I’m sorry for that,” Goodell said Friday. “But now I will get it right.”“I got it wrong in the handling of the Ray Rice matter, and I’m sorry for that,” Goodell said Friday. “But now I will get it right.”
People familiar with owners’ views have said the ownership group supports Goodell. But they also have said the owners would consider ousting him if the report issued by former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III following his investigation of the league’s handling of the Rice case finds Goodell guilty of willful and egregious misconduct.
“I believe I have the support of the owners,” Goodell said. “That has been clear to me. They obviously expect us to do a better job.”
Goodell reiterated that he does not believe anyone in the league office saw a second video of the Rice incident, showing Rice striking his fiancee from a view inside the elevator of the Atlantic City hotel where the incident took place, before it was released publicly by TMZ.
Earlier in the day, Procter & Gamble pulled out of a partnership with the league to raise breast cancer awareness.
Asked whether the league was close to losing any of its regular sponsors, Goodell replied, “You’ll have to speak to the sponsors. I don’t believe so.”
More NFL news from the Post:More NFL news from the Post:
NFL partners with domestic violence, sexual assault prevention groupsNFL partners with domestic violence, sexual assault prevention groups
Procter & Gamble pulls out of NFL partnership on Breast Cancer AwarenessProcter & Gamble pulls out of NFL partnership on Breast Cancer Awareness
White House weighs in on NFL’s domestic violence problemsWhite House weighs in on NFL’s domestic violence problems