Baltimore Ravens owner Stephen Bisciotti on Monday denied orchestrating a cover-up over the Ray Rice domestic violence case but apologized for the franchise’s inadequate response to the scandal.
An ESPN report accused the NFL team of using “misinformation” and “misdirection” as it sought to minimize the case involving their star running back.
“There has been no misdirection or misinformation by the Ravens,” Bisciotti said in a lengthy statement directed to fans and posted on the team’s website.
“We have stated what we knew and what we thought throughout — from the original report of the incident, to the release of the first videotape, to the release of the second videotape, which revealed a much harsher reality.”
A first videotape of the February incident in a hotel casino showed Rice pulling his future wife, Janay Palmer, unconscious from an elevator.
The second videotape, which surfaced after Rice had been banned for just two games by the NFL, showed him punching her in the head inside the lift.
That video sparked a nationwide furor and prompted the Ravens to sack Rice and the NFL to ban him indefinitely — a suspension he is appealing.
“As we said in our response to ESPN’s questions on Friday, it was our understanding based on Ray’s account that in the course of a physical altercation between the two of them he slapped Janay with an open hand, and that she hit her head against the elevator rail or wall as she fell to the ground,” said Bisciotti, who added in a press conference that he was reluctant to believe the worst of a player he felt affection for.
Bisciotti said the ESPN story relied heavily on accounts from Rice’s lawyer and other supporters who are “building a case for reinstatement”.
“There is no excuse for me not to have demanded that video,” Bisciotti said. “I wasn’t concerned or interested enough to demand it. Never crossed my mind. I’m deeply sorry for that.”
Kevin Van Valkenburg, who co-authored the ESPN report, said he and Don Van Natta junior “feel confident” in their story.
Rice’s appeal of his suspension is expected to contend that the video showing the actual blow, which became public in August, does not contain any new information on which to base an increased punishment.
– Redemption –
Whatever happens with the appeal, Bisciotti reiterated that Rice “will never play for us again.”
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said that while he knew Rice had struck Palmer, “the video was much more violent than what I had pictured.”
The Rice case is one of several violent off-field incidents that have roiled the hugely popular and lucrative NFL, sparking criticism from fans, sponsors and even US lawmakers.
Embattled NFL boss Roger Goodell has vowed new policies will be in place before the season-ending Super Bowl in February, but has so far failed to shore up public trust.
Goodell, like the Ravens, has admitted he “got it wrong” in the Rice case, but the league has also taken heat for a vacillating response to the child abuse charge against Vikings star Adrian Peterson as well as domestic violence charges against Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy.
“I haven’t lost faith in Roger,” Bisciotti said. “This is as good a chance for this league as any. We believe, like Roger said the other day, that sports is an avenue, sports is a vehicle for change.”
And while Rice won’t play for the Ravens again, Bisciotti didn’t rule out another role for Rice with the team in the future.
“People that redeem themselves are the best ones to lead others,” Bisciotti said.