Surprise Surprise! NFL Investigator BACKS Roger Goodell in Ray Rice Investigation
By Debbie Edwards
The National Football League hired a former FBI director Robert Mueller to investigate its investigation of the Ray Rice incident that occurred on February 15, 2014, and the findings are anything but shocking.
Sure, Mueller acknowledged that the NFL had substantial information about the case and could have obtained more evidence. And yes,Mueller found that the league should have done a better job of getting all of the facts before handing down its initial punishment. What is noteworthy, however, is that the investigation showed that no one from the League had seen the video that a law enforcement official claims to have mailed to NFL headquarters in April. The video resurfaced in September, and prompted Rice’s indefinite suspension from the League.
Forensics from phone records and emails were obtained to substantiate this claim that no evidence from law enforcement was received by League personnel. Mueller gave extensive details as to how he gathered the evidence, that his review was independent of any NFL assistance, and even gave the NFL several suggestions as to how it could improve its policies, investigative, and security controls.
Long story short, the NFL is concerned about its reputation and was willing to pay good money to an outside consultant to restore what little credibility may be left. It is basic, fundamental employment practice that a thorough investigation should precede punishment, and that punishment, once given, should be defining and conclusive to that incident. This is the reason that Judge Barbara S. Jones ruled that Goodell overstepped his authority by disciplining Rice twice. She found Rice to be forthcoming with the details of the incident and that justice would be to vacate the indefinite suspension.
As a result, Goodell went into damage control mode. He hired a professional consultant to tell him something that most of America would have told him for free…. Get the whole story before you make a decision, and once that decision is made, stick by it.
