Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti on Thursday night said that he does not agree "at all" with calls for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign in the wake of the Ray Rice scandal. Bisciotti talked to CBS' James Brown in a taped interview that aired prior to Thursday's Steelers-Ravens game and characterized the AP report Wednesday alleging Goodell knew about the second Rice video "is an accusation from an anonymous source." Bisciotti said of the report, which indicated the NFL received video of Rice's assault in April, "Could it be trying to deflect blame from the police for being so light on them? Maybe, but why would I take an anonymous person's word over a man I have known for 14 years?" Bisciotti said he believes Goodell when the commissioner "says he never saw it." Bisciotti: "I've known Roger for 14 years. He's dedicated his life to the NFL. And as a man, I can't believe that he saw that video and gave a two-game suspension. That's what makes it hard for me to believe" ("Thursday Night Kickoff," CBS, 9/11).
WINNING THE FLORIDA VOTE: Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross also is offering support of Goodell, saying, "Roger is not a liar." He added that he "does not believe Goodell had seen" the second tape (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 9/12). Meanwhile, Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan in a statement called Rice's assault an "unspeakable and cowardly act" but added, "I have always had great faith in Commissioner Goodell." Khan: "I applaud his decision to have this matter investigated by an independent party, and I know the process will be seen through objectively and with great integrity" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/12). In N.Y., Gary Myers writes the owners "still have his back," and there is "no undercurrent to fire him, no small faction that wants him out." In fact, owners are "more concerned Goodell is going to get fed up and quit" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/12). CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora cited a source as saying, "They're standing by him, across the board. You haven't seen one owner come out questioning him. Their instinct is to defend him, and it's going to take quite a bit to change that." (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/11).
TIDE STILL COULD TURN: In DC, Maske & Goldman cite sources as saying that while Goodell "continues to have solid support among many of the NFL’s 32 owners, the owners are prepared to act against him, potentially considering his dismissal," if the league's probe "concludes he misrepresented what he knew about the Rice investigation or orchestrated a cover-up." A source said, "If the investigation concludes that the commissioner saw more and knew more than he has said and he was not truthful about that to the clubs, things would change." Another source said that Goodell's job would "be at risk only if it is found he personally orchestrated a cover-up." The source said, "Certainly he would be (held) accountable for intentionally misleading people and taking actions to cover his tracks. Certainly that would be grounds for anything from a reprimand to termination. (But) it would take a lot. No one expects it to come to that" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/12).
TRACK RECORD WORKING IN HIS FAVOR: In L.A., Sam Farmer reports barring information that he "did know the NFL had a copy of the video, Goodell still has enough support among team owners to hang on to his job." In a "bottom-line business, he has done too much to enrich NFL owners, lining their pockets with record-breaking TV deals and a labor agreement that tilts heavily in their favor." But that "doesn't speak to his credibility as the league's discipline czar, which is now obliterated" (L.A. TIMES, 9/12). In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes as long as the NFL "continues to generate outrageous amounts of revenue, the NFL owners won't remove Goodell." Miklasz: "He's their guy. Their employee. They credit him for finding ways to create even more revenue streams. Business is booming" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/12). NFL agent Leigh Steinberg: "He has made them incredible amounts of money … They will defend him as long as they can. But they love their own franchises more and if sponsorship money were to start to move away, then Goodell becomes expendable" ("Money with Melissa Francis," Fox Business, 9/11). In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi writes Goodell is "either negligent or a liar when it comes to the Rice situation, and it probably doesn't matter because his job is safe." He "works for the owners" and is "making them rich" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 9/12). The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Myers writes, "I don't think he will be fired. I don't think he will quit." But if this "begins to impact the owners' profit margin, then their loyalty to Goodell will be quickly forgotten" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/12).
BEARING DOWN: Bears Chair George McCaskey in a statement said his family has "complete faith in the commissioner," as Goodell is a "man of integrity and has acknowledged the initial response to Mr. Rice’s situation was inadequate" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/12). In Chicago, David Haugh writes McCaskey's support for Goodell is "blind faith," because it came without him knowing what the league's independent investigation "will uncover." Short of sponsors "fleeing, the old boys' club will point to the NFL's second-least-valuable team, the Bills, selling recently for $1.1 billion as a sign that Goodell excels at the part of the job they consider the most important" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/12). Also in Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom wrote given that Bears Principal Owner Virginia McCaskey "is a woman, the views of the team's brass might be enlightening." Rosenbloom: "I wonder what the Bears' brass up to and including Virginia McCaskey think of Goodell’s handling of the sick Ray Rice saga. Do they think Goodell is lying or stupid? Complicit or incompetent?" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 9/11).
KRAFTING HIS PLAN: In Boston, Steve Buckley writes under the sub head, "In Backing Roger Goodell, Robert Kraft Caught Up In A No-Win Situation." Kraft this week on "CBS This Morning" defended Goodell, and if Kraft "chooses to say Goodell didn't know about the video, even though he couldn't possibly have been in position to be certain of this statement, that's his right." As if to "punctuate his support for Goodell," Kraft said, "Anyone who is second-guessing that doesn't know him." Buckley: "Sorry, but we are not required to 'know' public figures in order to criticize them" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/12).
