A mishandled situation: where Goodell went wrong in the Ray Rice case

Due to the recent mishandling of the Ray Rice incident, Roger Goodell should step down as the commissioner of the NFL.

In July, Rice was suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season. He was caught on casino hotel videotape dragging his fiance out of the elevator who appeared to be unconscious. But was she unconscious because she got punched in the face or because she consumed too much alcohol?

At the time, when the suspension was announced, it was clear it was not severe enough. Do we really need to see why he needed to drag her out in order to deliver a more severe punishment? That was obviously Goodell’s way of thinking.

On Sept. 8, TMZ released the video of Rice punching his fiance in the face. Goodell and the NFL had no choice – they needed to make a statement and suspend Rice indefinitely.

Goodell should step down, because rather than be proactive from the beginning, he has been reactive.

Did Goodell look into whether or not he could have access to this tape? Also, why did TMZ, not the NFL, release this tape? Did they not want one of their own to be involved with a domestic abuse incident?

In an interview with CBS’ Norah O’Donnell, O’Donnell asked Goodell whether or not anyone in the NFL saw the second video tape before Sept. 8.

“No one in the NFL, to my knowledge, and I had been asked that same question, and the answer to that is no. We were not granted that. We were told that was not something we would have access to,” Goodell told O’Donnell.

Some may believe what he is saying is actually true, but I’m not buying it for a second.

The updated policy for domestic violence is another example of the commissioner being reactive rather than proactive.

Jane McManus, a columnist for espnW.com, said “a six game suspension will be given for a first-time offense, and it could be longer under certain circumstances. A lifetime ban for a second offense and can apply for reinstatement after one year.”

If the commissioner had proposed this new policy from the beginning, this would be a whole different story.

I’m also not the only one who believes Goodell should resign.

Holly Yan, a news editor at CNN said, “The women’s rights group Ultraviolet flew a banner over the New York Giants-Arizona Cardinals game Sept. 14 saying Goodell must go.”

What would happen if the same situation involving an athlete occurred at the University of South Dakota? USD administration and the player involved would be held accountable. The student athlete would be kicked off the team, and some university officials would probably have to resign.

In every industry those who are in charge are expected to lead and be proactive. They don’t react when a situation occurs and then do the right thing. Goodell should resign for leading from behind.