Roger Goodell responded to widespread criticism about the Ray Rice suspension and the NFL reaction to domestic violence and predictably, he defended the decision and said it was fair based on Rice's record in the past and what the NFL has done in the past with players like Rice.
According to ESPN.com, Goodell spoke about the suspension and defended it, because what else would he do, saying that the league has remained "consistent" with punishment regarding these issues. Goodell sounds as blind and tone deaf as everyone else and now the league hopes this issue just fades into the background so they can go along printing money and handling things however they want.
Ben Roethlisberger got four games for his issues a few years ago, but Goodell said that was different and now he will have to deal with the reaction to Rice, even if he thinks it was a good choice. Goodell tried to uphold the integrity of the process, but what integrity is there to have a woman beg for the reputation of her abuser in front of his boss...while he is sitting right next to her.
"We have a very firm policy that domestic violence is not acceptable in the NFL, and there are consequences for that," the commissioner said. "Obviously, when we are going through the process of evaluating an issue and whether there will be discipline, you look at all of the facts that are available to us."