A former NFL executive told USA Today that his team and others in the league failed to discipline players in “hundreds and hundreds” of domestic violence cases during his 30-year career.
Jerry Angelo, who was the general manager of the Chicago Bears from 2001 to 2011, told the newspaper that he regrets not taking action after learning of a player’s involvement in a domestic violence incident.
“I made a mistake,” he told USA Today. “I was human. I was part of it. I’m not proud of it.”
Angelo said the typical response after finding out that a player was involved in a domestic violence case was to ask “OK, is everybody OK? Yeah. How are they doing? Good” before simply moving on. He further admitted to the newspaper that he didn’t report cases involving his players to the league because it would have put the team at a competitive disadvantage.
“Our business is to win games,” Angelo said. “We’ve got to win games, and the commissioner’s job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. But to start with that, you have to know who’s representing the shield. We got our priorities a little out of order.”
Angelo was speaking to USA Today about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s handling of the Ray Rice case. Goodell originally handed the ex-Baltimore Ravens running back a two-game suspension for allegedly assaulting his then-fiancee, then suspended him indefinitely after TMZ published surveillance video of the incident that purportedly showed Rice knocking the woman unconscious.
The NFL has repeatedly said no one in the league was aware of the surveillance footage until TMZ published the video, although law enforcement reportedly sent the footage to the league back in April.
More of the iceberg is becoming visible
Honest, I just don’t understand it. What is it about domestic violence that we expect an employer to punish the perpetrators instead of the criminal justice system?
Shoudn’t these sonsobitches be in jail for assault and battery, like any of us normal human beings would be treated? It’s crazy to expect the employers who profit from their talents to be the ones to levy punishment, and doing so lays bare the charade we call “justice.”
To borrow from Leona Helmsley, justice is for the little people.
If American football was a drug, it would have been banned by the FDA years ago!
That’s not the only thing Roger the dodger and his billionaire owners have been covering up…with a lot of help from their bought and paid for local politicians!
Concussions and football brain disease - cover up! For every diagnosed concussion in the NFL, about 16 go un-diagnosed. This figure is much higher in college football and it is out of site in high school football.
How many high school football players die each year from football injuries? Google it - you will be amazed!
Widespread domestic abuse - cover up going back to even before Jim Brown!
Widespread use of PED’s and other illegal drugs (pot is legal in 2 states and growing) - cover up!
Huge government subsidies for stadiums and training facilities - cover up! While school budgets and other services are being cut.
Much shorter life expectancy for all pro football players - cover up!
Racism in the league among the owners and investors - cover up!
The NFL and big time College and high school football - cover up!
Ok, Mr. DeAngelo…you opened the door a little bit farther. Now tell us, who, what and where are all these domestic abusers. Tell us what you did and what those of your peers did. Thanks in advance.
This is disturbing. Not surprising but disturbing. What going on when large institutions like the NFL, churches, and universities think they have the right to hide criminal behavior?