NFL increases staff for domestic violence issues

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday hired three senior advisers and broadened the role of a senior executive to help address domestic violence and sexual assault inside the league. 

Goodell’s announcement in a letter to NFL staff — obtained by multiple media outlets — comes amid mounting criticism in Washington of how the league handled its punishment of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who was seen on video released publicly last week punching his now-wife at a casino in February. 

{mosads}The new staff changes are meant to accelerate the implementation of a stricter set of domestic violence policies the league announced last month. Those include a six-game suspension for the first instance of domestic violence and a lifetime ban, with the opportunity to appeal, after a second offense. 

“Our goal is to make a real difference on these and other issues. We know that we will be judged by our actions and their effectiveness,” he said in the letter, noting additional changes would be announced soon. 

The commissioner appointed Anna Isaacson as the vice president in charge of social responsibility, where she will help develop a “full range of education, training and support programs relating” to domestic violence and sexual assault. She had previously worked as the NFL’s vice president for community affairs and philanthropy. 

Goodell also hired three advisers, each with a background in domestic violence advocacy. Lisa Friel previously worked in the New York County District Attorney’s office, leading a unit dedicated to prosecuting sex crimes. 

The NFL also hired Rita Smith, who is the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and Jane Randel, who helped found an organization that helps raise the profile of the issue. 

Lawmakers have been piling on the NFL since the video became public. A group of 16 female senators last week sent a letter to Goodell urging him to impose a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence. Other lawmakers have broached the possibility of congressional hearings on the subject. 

After the February incident, Rice was given a two-game suspension by the league. However, the NFL reversed course and imposed an indefinite ban after gossip outlet TMZ published a video of the attack. The Ravens also cut him from the team.

Questions still remain about when the league first obtained the video, and the NFL has tapped former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead an independent investigation into the handling of the incident.