The NFL unanimously passed a revised personal-conduct policy for all league employees Wednesday during the owners meetings in Dallas.
The more extensive disciplinary policy comes in a year that had high-profile incidents that involved former Ravens running back Ray Rice, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, among others.
The introduction of the new policy came the same day ESPN reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's testimony in the Rice appeal hearing before former federal judge Barbara S. Jones was inconsistent. ESPN said it had obtained a copy of the 631-page transcript of the hearing in which Jones overturned Rice's indefinite suspension after testimony from eight witnesses, including Goodell, Rice and Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
The inconsistencies, according to the report, included what Goodell said about the NFL's attempts to obtain the video and what Rice said to him in the June 16 meeting in his office. Newsome testified that he heard Rice tell Goodell that he hit Janay Palmer, now Rice's wife, in an Atlantic City, N.J., casino elevator in February.
Meanwhile, NFL owners voted on the new personal-conduct policy without the collective bargaining process the NFL Players Association sought. The policy maintains disciplinary power for Goodell, a frequent target of criticism from union officials and NFL players.
"With considerable assistance from the many people and organizations we consulted, NFL ownership has endorsed an enhanced policy that is significantly more robust, thorough, and formal," Goodell said in a statement. "We now have a layered evaluation process to take into account a diversity of expert views. This will better enable us to make appropriate decisions and ensure accountability for everyone involved in the process."
The players union is upset about the developments.
"Our union has not been offered the professional courtesy of seeing the NFL's new personal conduct policy before it hit the presses," the NFLPA said in a statement. "Their unilateral decision and conduct today is the only thing that has been consistent over the past few months."
Ravens union representative Chris Canty expressed discontent with how the process unfolded and the escalating adversity between the NFLPA and the league.
"Obviously, I'm a little disappointed the new personal-conduct policy was passed without any involvement from the NFLPA," Canty told The Baltimore Sun. "I think that's something both the league office and the NFLPA need to come together and discuss to talk about how to move our game forward in a positive direction, especially in the realm of player discipline. I hate to keep sounding like a broken record, but we have to find a way to come together to help improve the game and not be so adversarial with one another.
"We have a great game. Football is America's sport. We want to keep it that way for the future. We both have a vested interest in making our game as great a product as it can possibly be for our fans, and player discipline is a part of that. But I think it takes both sides to come up with an effective discipline and fine schedule."
Among the policy changes:
* Added NFL-funded counseling and services for victims, families and violators.
* A longer list of prohibited conduct.
* Independent investigative procedures.
* Criteria for paid leave for an individual formally charged with violent crimes, including domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
* An expert group of outside advisers to review and evaluate violations and consult on the policy.
* A baseline suspension of six games without pay for violations involving assault, battery, domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse other forms of family violence, or sexual assault, with consideration given to possible mitigating or aggravating circumstances.
* Goodell appointing a league office executive with a criminal justice background to issue initial discipline. The disciplinary officer will be hired for a newly created position of special counsel for investigations and conduct. This individual will oversee the NFL's investigatory procedures and determine discipline for violations of the personal-conduct policy.
* An appeals process pursuant to Article 46 (Commissioner Discipline) of the collective bargaining agreement for players or to applicable club or league procedures for nonplayers. The commissioner may name a panel that consists of independent experts to participate in deciding an appeal.
* The appointment by Goodell of a new league conduct committee composed of representatives of NFL ownership who will review the policy at least annually and recommend appropriate changes with advice from outside experts.
In the ESPN report, the transcript of the hearing says Goodell testified Nov. 5 that Rice had said he slapped his fiancee and had "minimized the impact of the physical contact" during the meeting June 16 in the NFL's offices. But Rice testified on the second day of the appeal hearing that "it wasn't a slap."
"I told the commissioner I hit her, she hit her head, and I did not ever mention that she slipped and hit her head and that's what knocked her out. Never mentioned to that extreme to an extent where a slap, that she slipped, hit her head and knocked herself out. Those words never came out of my mouth," according to Rice's testimony in the ESPN report.
The report also stated that NFLPA attorney Heather McPhee, who attended the June 16 hearing, testified that she had concerns about advice that Dick Cass, the Ravens president, had given to Rice. According to McPhee's testimony obtained by ESPN, Cass said: "I completely agree with what Heather just said. Ray, be yourself. I would suggest there are different ways to describe what happened honestly, and it would be truthful to say [you] lay [your] hands on" Janay.
McPhee said she told Cass, according to the report: "I see what you are saying. I would respectfully suggest that sounds ... as an attempt to soften the description of what occurred in the altercation. ... Ray had always used consistent language with me and it was never anything about laying hands on his wife." Cass, who was not called to testify during the hearing, said he understood her point, she said.
"I never suggested to Ray that he soften or tone down his description of what happened," Cass said in a statement released by the Ravens on Wednesday. The statement said Cass told Rice to "tell the truth," "don't sugarcoat it" and "assume the league saw all the video."
An excerpt from the policy:
"It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone who is part of the league must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity of and public confidence in the NFL. This includes owners, coaches, players, other team employees, game officials, and employees of the league office, NFL Films, NFL Network or any other NFL business. Conduct by anyone in the league that is illegal, violent, dangerous, or irresponsible puts innocent victims at risk, damages the reputation of others in the game, and undercuts public respect and support for the NFL. We must endeavor at all times to be people of high character; we must show respect for others inside and outside our workplace; and we must strive to conduct ourselves in ways that favorably reflect on ourselves, our teams, the communities we represent, and the NFL.
To this end, the league has increased education regarding respect and appropriate behavior, has provided resources for all employees to assist them in conforming their behavior to the standards expected of them, and has made clear that the league's goal is to prevent violations of the Personal Conduct Policy. In order to uphold our high standards, when violations of this Personal Conduct Policy do occur, appropriate disciplinary action must follow. If you are convicted of a crime or subject to a disposition of a criminal proceeding, you are subject to discipline. But even if your conduct does not result in a criminal conviction, if the league finds that you have engaged in conduct [prohibited by the policy], you will be subject to discipline. The personal conduct policy is issued pursuant to the commissioner's authority under the NFL Constitution and Bylaws to define and sanction conduct detrimental to the NFL. The policy defines the standards that apply to everyone in the NFL and the steps the league will take to promote conduct that is consistent with those expectations.
Anyone arrested or charged with conduct that would violate this policy will be offered a formal clinical evaluation, the cost of which will be paid by the league, and appropriate follow-up education, counseling or treatment programs. In cases reviewed for possible disciplinary action, the employee's decision to make beneficial use of these clinical services will be considered a positive factor in determining eventual discipline if a violation is found. These evaluations will be performed at designated facilities around the country. The employee may select the particular provider at the designated facility.
In appropriate cases (for example, cases involving domestic violence or child abuse), the league will make available assistance to victims and families, as well as the employee. This assistance may include providing or direction to appropriate counseling, social and other services, clergy, medical professionals, and specialists in dealing with children and youth. These resources will be provided through specialized Critical Response Teams affiliated with the league office and with member clubs. These teams will develop standard protocols based on expert recommendations of appropriate and constructive responses to reported incidents of violence, particularly incidents of domestic violence, child abuse, or sexual assault. These response teams will assist victims and families in matters of personal security and other needs following a reported incident. In addition, information about local non-league resources to help victims and family members will be provided to affected parties."