By Linda Robertson
Miami Herald
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discussed the league’s efforts to strengthen its personal conduct policy through more aggressive enforcement and prevention measures during the Associated Press Sports Editors annual meetings with pro sports’ leaders in New York City.
“We began this journey over the summer because of the Ray Rice case,” Goodell said Friday. “Last August we gained insights into domestic violence and sexual assault toward understanding this world a lot better. We’re a better league for it.”
In the wake of allegations against players such as Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson and the trial of Aaron Hernandez, the NFL decided to revise its policy and is determined to be an instrument of social change, Goodell said
“Sports in general have driven a lot of change — on race relations, for example,” he said. “Sports has that opportunity, and it’s our responsibility, frankly. We have a great platform. It comes with high expectations. We want to take that platform and make a difference in society.”
Goodell was flanked by five administrators who are responsible for investigating and educating players and NFL personnel on conduct and safety.
“We used to defer to law enforcement and the justice system,” said Jeff Pash, the NFL’s executive vice president and general counsel. “We now do our own investigations with our own people. That’s what we did with Greg Hardy and will do going forward.”
The NFL has held hour-long educational sessions on sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse with more than 5,000 players and team staff members as well as critical response training with franchise employees. The topics of DUI and substance abuse will be covered in the future, said Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s senior vice president for social responsibility.
“We’re working with national organizations to bring sexual assault out of the dark,” she said. “Character education is part of our long-term plan to help build the next generation of men and women with integrity.”
Goodell introduced Lisa Friel as special counsel for investigations and Todd Jones as special counsel for conduct. Both are former prosecutors.
Goodell and Friel said they are opposed to a zero tolerance policy for players who violate conduct rules, and that they would like to see players who serve suspensions such as Peterson, Rice and Hardy return to their NFL careers.
“I would not recommend zero tolerance because it will drive reporting down,” Friel said. “Give people a second chance. After that second chance, they face banishment from the league.”
Goodell said the past year, during which the league’s image took a battering, was personally challenging to him.
“It’s been a year of learning and self-evaluation,” he said.
While Goodell chose to emphasize the league’s conduct initiatives, he addressed other issues during the 90-minute session at NFL headquarters on Park Avenue.
*Injuries in games decreased 25 percent and head hits decreased 68 percent, reducing the average number of concussions to .5 per game, according to Jeff Miller, senior vice president for health and safety policy.
*In contrast to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s willingness to explore sports gambling, “we oppose legalized sports gambling and don’t anticipate changing that,” Goodell said.
*Goodell anticipates adding more international games to the schedule.
*As for the continuing controversy over the Washington Redskins name, “we know it’s a divisive issue and we have listened to every side on this one. It is the team’s decision.”
