ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive months ago, while league officers have insisted they didn’t see the violent images until this week.
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.”
The official, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, says the NFL never followed up. The person can’t confirm if anyone at the NFL watched the video.
The person said he shared the video — which he was unauthorized to release — because he wanted the NFL to have it before deciding on Rice’s punishment.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has sent a memo to the 32 teams reiterating that the NFL never saw until Monday the video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee that led to Rice’s indefinite suspension and release by the Baltimore Ravens.
Goodell told the teams on Wednesday that none of the law enforcement entities the league approached “was permitted to provide any video or other investigatory material to us.” He said the league did not ask the casino directly for the video.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said Tuesday in a letter to the fans that the team tried to get the video from both the casino and law enforcement. The casino wouldn’t share it and the authorities refused, he said.
Goodell also stressed his confidence in how the NFL will deal with domestic violence and sexual assault in the future — “seriously and effectively.”
