Sen. Blumenthal: Time for Goodell to Resign

Sen. Blumenthal: Roger Goodell ‘Must Go’ If NFL Had Rice Video (CBS New York)

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Members of Congress from both parties on Wednesday questioned NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of a domestic violence incident involving former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.

Goodell has insisted the league didn’t see the violent images until this week. After The Associated Press reported that a law enforcement official said he hadsent a video of Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive five months ago, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the report suggested a “burgeoning, insurmountable credibility gap” regarding statements by Goodell.

“If these reports are true, Commissioner Goodell must go, for the good of the NFL and its fans,” Blumenthal said in a statement Wednesday night. “The current leadership of the NFL cannot be trusted to fairly, genuinely implement policies that address domestic violence. As Roger Goodell himself said several years ago when allegations arose that the New Orleans Saints offered bounties for injuring opponents, ‘ignorance is not an excuse.’