The Associated Press has released a report contradicting NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s claim that no one in their offices saw the video of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmer, prior to it becoming public Monday.
The law enforcement official tells AP he sent an NFL executive a DVD of the altercation back in April. He adds that someone at an NFL office number left a 12-second voicemail on April 9 confirming it had been received, saying “you’re right, it is gruesome.”
The NFL says it has “no knowledge” of an employee receiving a copy of the footage.
“We are not aware of anyone in our office who possessed or saw the video before it was made public on Monday,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ESPN. “We will look into it.”
Despite the NFL’s announcement of an independent investigation, certain women’s groups and sports commentators are demanding NFL owners fire Goodell.
“You have already forfeited your privilege of resigning because to restore just the slightest credibility to the den of liars, CYA specialists and investigators whose job it is to bury whatever they actually find, the owners and the NFL need to publicly and loudly fire you,” said ESPN’s Keith Olbermann.