OT: GM Says Rice told Goodell he hit Janay

[RobertWeathers]

Not sure if this belongs here, Mods but it's a bye week and this is fascinating.

I love Don Van Natta. He will dig and dig and dig and couldn't care less who falls. A true investigative reporter.

Goody can still squirm out of it but his "transparency" policy is rubbish.

"Outside the Lines" quoted four sources in September who said that Rice had told Goodell he struck Janay -- a claim Goodell has denied, saying that Rice's account to him in the June 16 meeting was "ambiguous." Goodell spent more than two hours testifying Wednesday.

Details of what Rice and his wife testified to Thursday and what Goodell said Wednesday were not released to "Outside the Lines" because of a gag order that Jones imposed. But sources said Newsome backed Rice's previous accounts of what he told Goodell. Goodell spent the majority of his time testifying under cross-examination by outside union attorney Jeffrey Kessler, sources said.

Also presented during the two-day hearing were dueling sets of notes taken by the union and the league during the June 16 meeting. The union's notes, sources said, clearly state that Rice told Goodell he had hit Janay; the league's notes, sources said, state that Rice used ambiguous words to describe the assault.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...l-roger-goodell-elevator-incident-sources-say

 

[Jackson 2]

Goodell lied? No.....

 

[chasa]

under oath no less.

 

[Bledsoe_Fan]

Not terribly surprising

 

[RobertWeathers]

Lotta intrigue here. I'm sure Ozzie had a sit down with Biscotti and told him what he would say. What was discussed in that meeting and what Biscotti told Goody afterwards and his reaction to what Ozziewould say would be priceless to learn.

What is fascinating here is how two lawyers in the same meeting have different notes. In my experience, lawyers don't screw up on note-taking. What you say is what they document. How they contort what you say is a different matter altogether.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

It's all very simple. Rice's wife probably pleaded with goodell to go easy on her husband. and he did as a favor to her and bisciotti.

 

[Kontradiction]

If this is true, Goodell could be charged with perjury, correct? Please, Mr. Kraft, stop backing this man. It makes you look awful.

 

[borg]

If this is true, Goodell could be charged with perjury, correct? Please, Mr. Kraft, stop backing this man. It makes you look awful.

Perjury in his office????
Is that how it works

 

[Kontradiction]

Perjury in his office????
Is that how it works

I'm actually on vacation and haven't been following this whole thing closely. That's why I'm asking.

 

[varjao]

At this point I doubt it's going to have a happy ending for us like Goodell out. For this to happen the NFL fans will have to wait for the next Aaron Hernandez and another ambiguous words like "I shoot him, but it was the 10th shot, he was already dead, I didn't kill him"

 

[borg]

I'm actually on vacation and haven't been following this whole thing closely. That's why I'm asking.

This is a disciplinary hearing in front of a neutral arbitrator......in the offices of former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones. Courts aren't involved......a NFL/NFLPA sanctioned private arbitration.

 

[Joker]

NEW YORK -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell testified under oath Wednesday for two-plus hours in Ray Rice's appeal hearing in Manhattan, sources told "Outside the Lines."

[
Andrew Burton/Getty ImagesRay Rice and his wife Janay arrived Wednesday morning for the former Ravens running back's appeal hearing.
The testimony from Goodell, the first witness called, followed opening statements by the NFL and the NFL players' union, which is handling the appeal for the former Pro Bowl running back who was suspended indefinitely by the NFL and released by the Baltimore Ravens after a domestic violence incident.

Goodell spent the majority of his time testifying under cross-examination by outside union attorney Jeffrey Kessler, sources said. The sources did not disclose what Goodell said under testimony, citing a gag order in the case.

Rice and his wife, Janay, attended the hearing, which began midmorning at the offices of former U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones. Jones, who will decide the appeal, ruled that all witnesses would be testifying under oath.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11825495/ray-rice-hearing-appeal-ban-begins-new-york

 

[Joker]

Goodell is lying under oath with no apparent ramifications for perjury. Once again, this proves what we Goodell critics have been banging the drums about since 2007. He's an open, proven liar and the worst commissioner of any sport at any time in US history. He HAS to go.

 

[Haley]

I imagine this is a perfectly executed admission that will allow the GM to avoid any legal difficulties while somehow managing to be inadmissible to use against Goodell. I'm not sure how but it won't surprise me in the slightest if it ends up that way.

 

[borg]

Goodell is lying under oath with no apparent ramifications for perjury. Once again, this proves what we Goodell critics have been banging the drums about since 2007. He's an open, proven liar and the worst commissioner of any sport at any time in US history. He HAS to go.

Just curious why it is assumed Goodell is lying but Ozzie isn't. Sure...the narrative leads us to believe Goodell has more to gain with his "version".... but still.....you write..."this proves...he's an open, proven liar". What's the proof?
A version that agrees with your view isn't necessarily proof.

I predict this arbitrator will conclude that the original 2 week punishment should stand and the NFL must abide by Rice's contract (minus 2 weeks of salary). And Rice's eligibility will be reinstated. I highly doubt any NFL team will touch the guy.
As far as Goodell goes, the arbitrator is not there to judge Goodell. A Rice reinstatement will be seen as a Goodell loss in public opinion but so what. Owners are business men that win and lose deals all the time. And they move on. The change is already in place. The commissioners office is out of the punishment business. I'll bet most owners aren't too happy about that. Chalk one up to the NFLPA. Amnesty is in place. A few years from now the public may wish there was a more powerful force in place to control some of the antics that will likely escalate now that Big Brother has been pushed aside.

 

[Haley]

Just curious why it is assumed Goodell is lying but Ozzie isn't. Sure...the narrative leads us to believe Goodell has more to gain with his "version".... but still.....you write..."this proves...he's an open, proven liar". What's the proof?
A version that agrees with your view isn't necessarily proof.

I predict this arbitrator will conclude that the original 2 week punishment should stand and the NFL must abide by Rice's contract (minus 2 weeks of salary). And Rice's eligibility will be reinstated. I highly doubt any NFL team will touch the guy.
As far as Goodell goes, the arbitrator is not there to judge Goodell. A Rice reinstatement will be seen as a Goodell loss in public opinion but so what. Owners are business men that win and lose deals all the time. And they move on. The change is already in place. The commissioners office is out of the punishment business. I'll bet most owners aren't too happy about that. Chalk one up to the NFLPA. Amnesty is in place. A few years from now the public may wish there was a more powerful force in place to control some of the antics that will likely escalate now that Big Brother has been pushed aside.

Id say because of motive. Goodell lying gains him something. Ozzie lying really doesn't gain him anything that I can see.

 

[Ring 6]

Goodell is lying under oath with no apparent ramifications for perjury. Once again, this proves what we Goodell critics have been banging the drums about since 2007. He's an open, proven liar and the worst commissioner of any sport at any time in US history. He HAS to go.

Not to defend goodell but it has not yet been reported what he said under oath.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It's all very simple. Rice's wife probably pleaded with goodell to go easy on her husband. and he did as a favor to her and bisciotti.

But according to the OSTL article, Biscotti called Goody and had him go easy on Rice- even though in theory both parties saw the elevator tape.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Not to defend goodell but it has not yet been reported what he said under oath.

Yep. I'm sure he'll stick to his original story and/or say that there were aspects or specifics that he did not recall. He'll move on. The question is does his credibility move on with him?

 

[Jimke]

The NFL will lose the case and Goodell will look like a damn fool.