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 Goodell talked to several reporters at the Pro Football Hall of
Fame as part of the enshrinement weekend in Canton, Ohio.
He said that the length of the ban is "consistent" with other
punishments issued by the league.
"We have a very firm policy that domestic violence is not acceptable
in the NFL, and there are consequences for that," Goodell said.
"Obviously, when we are going through the process of evaluating an
issue and whether there were be discipline, you look at all of the
facts that are available to us."
Rice was arrested Feb. 15, after he allegedly struck his
then-fiancee, and now wife, Janay Palmer unconscious during an
altercation at an Atlantic City hotel. Video surfaced online showing
Rice dragging an unconscious Palmer out of an elevator.
Rice, a seventh-year running back with the Baltimore Ravens, pleaded
not guilty to a third-degree charge of aggravated assault and
avoided trial by being accepted into a pretrial intervention program
in May.
"I take into account all of the information before I make a decision
on what the discipline will be," Goodell said. "In this case, there
was no discipline by the criminal justice system.
"They put him that diversionary program, and I had seen Ray after
that. I had the opportunity to hear from him, hear from his wife and
hear from other people that he had brought into the hearing process,
and I put all of that together to make a decision."
- - -
Michael Strahan, Derrick Brooks, Walter Jones, Andre Reed, Aeneas
Williams, Claude Humphrey and Ray Guy will be formally enshrined
into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Canton, Ohio
on Saturday.
Strahan downplayed his accolades despite recording double-digit sack
totals six times in a nine-season span including a NFL single-season
record 22.5 sacks in 2001. A five-time All-Pro pick, he amassed
141.5 sacks in his 15-season career with the New York Giants.
Giants Hall of Famer Harry Carson said Strahan is among the top five
or six defensive players in team history, but Strahan does not think
he is as talented as recent and current Giants defensive ends Justin
Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul.
- - -
 Free agent quarterback Brady Quinn worked out for the New England
Patriots on Monday, according to ESPN.com.
Quinn said on "The Dan Patrick Show" on Friday that he worked out
with a team. However, he did not reveal the team.
- - -
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave kicker Shaun Suisham a four-year
contract extension that runs through the 2018 season.
Suisham made 30 of 32 field-goal attempts last year, good for a 93.8
conversion percentage. His 30 field goals tied for the third most in
team history and his 129 points ranked fifth most in a single
season.
- - -
[to top of second column] |
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree will miss one to two
weeks of training camp with an injury.
According to CSN Bay Area, the injury is not related to Crabtree's foot
or Achilles tendon, which limited him to five games last season. ESPN
reported that Crabtree has a sore hamstring, but is not a serious
injury.
- - -
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Allen Robinson is the team's latest wide
receiver out of action for a while.
Robinson is expected to miss at least two weeks with a hamstring injury.
- - -
The Seattle Seahawks officially placed tight end Anthony McCoy and
defensive tackle Jesse Williams on injured reserve.
The Seahawks also signed linebacker Marcus Dowtin and wide receiver
Ronald Johnson, and released wide receiver Randall Carroll.
- - -
The Houston Texans cut outside linebacker Trevardo Williams. The
6-foot-1, 237-pound Williams spent the 2013 season on injured reserve.
He was a fourth-round pick last year.
- - -
The Atlanta Falcons signed defensive tackle Theo Agnew. The 6-foot-4,
280-pound Agnew participated in the Falcons rookie minicamp as a tryout
player after the 2014 draft.
- - -
The San Diego Chargers signed free agent cornerback Lowell Rose. He has
spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets but has not
played in a regular-season game.
(Editing by Gene Cherry)
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