NFL taps domestic violence experts as advisers
NEW YORK -- Three experts in domestic violence will serve as senior advisers to the NFL.
Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams Monday announcing that Lisa Friel, Jane Randel and Rita Smith will "help lead and shape the NFL's policies and programs relating to domestic violence and sexual assault."
Friel was the head of the Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit in the New York County District Attorney's Office for more than a decade. Randel is the co-founder of No More, a campaign against domestic violence and sexual assault. Smith is the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Goodell has been under heavy criticism for his handling of the domestic abuse case involving star running back Ray Rice.
Rice was initially suspended for two games. Goodell at first defended the punishment, but more than a month later, he told owners he "didn't get it right" and that first-time domestic violence offenders would face a six-game suspension going forward. Then Rice was released by the Baltimore Ravens and indefinitely suspended by the league after video surfaced of the assault on his then-fiancee.
Monday's memo also said that Anna Isaacson, currently the NFL's vice president of community affairs and philanthropy, will become its vice president of social responsibility.
"Anna has been leading our internal work relating to how we address issues of domestic violence and related social issues," Goodell wrote. "In this new role, she will oversee the development of the full range of education, training and support programs relating to domestic violence, sexual assault and matters of respect."
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., told CBS' "Face the Nation" that the way the NFL handled Rice's case was "outrageous."
"I think the way the NFL handled this was awful. It was outrageous," Gillibrand said. "They had all the facts they needed. They had a player who admitted to beating his wife. They had video of him dragging her out an elevator. There was nothing left to determine. That player should've been fired immediately."
Gillibrand is one of 16 female senators who wrote to Goodell last week saying the NFL needs a "zero-tolerance" policy for players who commit violent acts against women.