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A 3 pm EDT Friday news conference held by the National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has caused Bookmaker.eu to temporarily remove odds of his resignation or termination by season’s end. Prior to the news conference, Bookmaker.eu, the oldest established online sportsbook catering to the North American market, featured odds of Goodell’s departure at +210, which pays $210 for every $100 bet or $21 for each $10 bet. Gambling911.com was awaiting word when odds would be updated.
Goodell reiterated he did not see a surveillance tape showing former Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice knocking his then fiancé unconscious in a casino elevator. He repeatedly stated that the NFL did not have the proper policies in place.
“I am disappointed in myself, I have disappointed the NFL, I have disappointed our partners,” Goodell confessed during the afternoon news conference.
NFL sponsors including Anheuser Busch have threatened to pull their ad deals in light of the domestic abuse scandals. Proctor and Gamble became the first company to pull their sponsorship on Friday and there are questions as to whether others will follow.
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Robert Mueller will be conducting what Goodell claims will be an independent probe.
The law firm overseeing the investigation, however, has very close ties to the National Football League, as Rachel Nichols of CNN pointed out during the news conference. Nichols noted that there are plenty of other law firms that could conduct the investigation that has not worked closely with the NFL.
“Even if he does do a flawless investigation, aren’t you leaving the door open where there is an element of doubt?” Nichols questioned.
TMZ.com, which first released the elevator video of Rice hitting his fiance, had a reporter present at the news conference and asked why Goodell had not visited the casino where the assault took place.
Goodell responded by stating that the NFL in the past has been completely reliant on dealing with law enforcement.
“Should we do more to get that information?”
“We found out by just one phone call,” the TMZ.com reported declared, questioning further how the NFL could not have gotten their hands on it.
Goodell has been widely panned on Twitter.
Greg Carr @AfricanaCarr tweeted:
The NFL owners haven't fired #RogerGoodell . His "I'm not resigning" press conference is their show of force. This is a class in arrogance.
Ben Ferguson @benfergusonshow tweeted:
#RogerGoodell "I hold myself to the highest personal standards" Dude come on! Then suspend yourself for at least the SuperBowl
Since the Ray Rice tape surfaced two weeks ago, a handful of other NFL players have been cited for domestic violence infractions.
- Chris Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
