NFL Commissioner Says Ray Rice Could Return to NFL One Day
Another media frenzy regarding Ray Rice's domestic violence case has risen. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with CBS News's Norah O'Donnell this morning about the recent termination of the Baltimore Ravens player.
A video that emerged of Rice knocking his then fiancee, Janay Palmer, unconscious in a Revel Hotel Casino in Atlantic City has left him sidelined in his career.
Two days after the Goodell suspended Rice he now has a different outcome for the player. "Clearly, he has paid the price for the actions he's already taken," he told CBS. Though Goodell says he was sickened by what he saw on a newly released video of the assault, he believes he can return to professional football one day.
"What we saw in the first videotape was troubling to us in and of itself," the Commissioner stated. "But what we saw yesterday was extremely clear. It was extremely graphic and it was sickening."
In February the assault takes place and a video surfaces of Rice dragging Palmer out of the elevator, however, it does not show the actual assault. This week a video obtained by TMZ showed the brutality of the assault Rice did on his now wife Janay Palmer.
There is some speculation if the NFL had seen the complete video prior to his minor suspension that left people fuming.
The NFL Commissioner told CBS that the league asked for the video on multiple occasions, but were not granted access.
"I understand that there may be legal restriction on them sharing that with us," he said.
The Commissioner explained that his initial two-game suspension for Rice was "insufficient action" However, he does not rule out Rice returning to the NFL in the future. "I don't rule that out...He would have to make sure that we are fully confident that he is addressing this issue. Clearly, he has paid a price for the actions that he's already taken."
Currently the Commissioner changed the NFL domestic abuse policy, upping the punishment for the first offense and a lifetime ban for the second.