Things aren't Looking Good for Roger Goodell Right Now

If you've been paying attention to the NFL at all this week, you know that things haven't been good.  In fact, right now the league is in the midst of perhaps their biggest credibility crisis ever.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ravens running back Ray Rice for only two games a month or two ago for domestic violence after he knocked out his fiancé (now wife) and video was released of Rice dragging her out of an elevator.  There was a lot of backlash and anger, and deservedly so, over the ridiculous "punishment" (if you could even call it that).  Goodell realized the backlash so put forth a new domestic violence policy, but only after seeing how upset people were.  Then this Monday, the actual video of Rice knocking out his fiancé was released and it was bad.  Inexcusable.  The media and public was in an uproar and the Ravens released Rice that afternoon before Goodell then suspended him indefinitely.  While both the Ravens and Goodell did the right thing Monday, it came way too late.  It was a bad situation, but the league and Goodell have made it so much worse.  The league claimed they hadn't seen the video before Monday.  They've stuck by that statement despite many saying that's just not true.  Either way, there are really only two options: the league saw the video and is now lying about it, or the league didn't see the video and comes off as ignorant.  Both options are bad for the league.

Then today, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press that they sent the videotape to the NFL back in April.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: AP Source: Law enforcement official sent copy of Ray Rice tape to NFL executive in April</p>&mdash; The Associated Press (@AP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AP/status/509806406934204416">September 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

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According to the AP report,

The person played The Associated Press a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number on April 9 confirming the video arrived. A female voice expresses thanks and says: "You're right. It's terrible."

Of course, the league still says that didn't know about this, but things are getting worse and worse for Roger Goodell.  Now the Commissioner is backing out of an award presentation for Panthers owner Jerry Richardson.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sources now confirm <a href="https://twitter.com/nflcommish">@nflcommish</a> will NOT be attending <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/clt?src=hash">#clt</a> event homoring his friend Jerry Richardson. Was supposed to present award.</p>&mdash; MichelleBoudin (@MichelleBoudin) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichelleBoudin/status/509815762140536832">September 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

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Again, there's only two options, and either Goodell is lying or he was ignorant.  Both of them are bad.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Roger Goodell&#39;s words to Saints regarding bounty gate..&quot;ignorance is not an excuse&quot;</p>&mdash; trey wingo (@wingoz) <a href="https://twitter.com/wingoz/status/509810982982778880">September 10, 2014</a></blockquote>

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People are calling for Goodell to resign, and to me personally I find it hard to imagine him keeping his job if he's really found to be lying about this and covering it up after an already awful decision to suspend Rice just two-games.  The NFL owners aren't stupid and they know that Goodell has been great for the NFL's business and they're racking up the money from the Commissioner's leadership.  But if their leader is lying and covering up something this big and with the incredible amount of backlash and loss of credibility that the league is going through right now, would they want their leader to be someone who has lost all credibility with people?  I sure wouldn't - but then again I don't have billions of dollars getting in the way of my opinion.

One interesting thing to consider is this: to remove Goodell from office the NFL owners have to vote.  IF (and it's a big if) they do decide to vote on Goodell's future and it comes within the next five weeks, the Colts' vote would go to Carlie Irsay-Gordon, as her father Jim is currently suspended.  How's that for a situation to step into?  We don't know how the details of that would work out because, well, it'd be unprecedented, but it's at least something to think about as it pertains to the Colts.  But we have to take it one step at a time.

And right now, things aren't looking good for Roger Goodell at all.