This video is no longer available.
CHARLOTTE, NC – Former Carolina Panther Muhsin Muhammad blasted the National Football League–and Commissioner Roger Goodell–saying Goodell and the NFL were “grossly negligent” and “totally irresponsible” in their handling of Ray Rice’s attack on his then-fiance.Β
“I think it’s a very knee-jerk reaction right now for the NFL to go back and say here’s what we should have did in the first place,β said Muhammad.
The Baltimore Ravens cut Rice Monday–and the NFL suspended him indefinitely–just hours after that new surveillance video obtained by TMZ spread like wildfire.
Β
The NFL says it didn’t see the newly released violent footage of Rice punching his then-fiance, and now wife, in a hotel elevator back in February.
Β
No one would have seen the video if TMZ didn’t post it, which is what some say is part of the problem.
Β
“How many ex-FBI guys work in the NFL? And you’re telling me you couldn’t find that video? You couldn’t get your hands on that video?” said Chris Kroeger, with WFNZ 610AM The Fan.
Β
Goodell himself hasn’t said anything about the elevator video that surfaced Monday. About 20 minutes after the Ravens cut Rice, a league spokesperson tweeted that Goodell had decided to suspend Rice indefinitely.Β It leaves some wondering if the NFL was part of a cover-up.
Β
On Monday at WFNZ, Former Carolina Panther Muhsin Muhammed and former Washington Redskin Clinton Portis talked about what they call a βclean-upβ and βknee-jerkβ reaction by the NFL and the commissioner.
Β
“He’s making decisions as he feels. That means there’s no real process to get to a conclusion of what is right and what is wrong,” said Muhammed.
Β
Muhammed says the NFL is trying to right its wrong. Surveillance video first surfaced in July showing Rice dragging his unconscious fiance, Janay Palmer, from that same elevator. The league suspended Rice two games.
Β
“That baffles me because I can’t believe someone seen this video and would say it’s two games only,” said Portis.
Β
“This is a true domestic violence crime and it should not be taken lightly,β said Muhammed.
Some NFL fans are accusing the NFL of a cover-up.
Β
“They ignored it and now they’re trying to fix what they ignored originally,” said George Vaca, an Uptown Charlotte resident.
Β
Advocates say there’s a cultural problem that has set a precedent of NFL players getting away with domestic violence.
Β
“It sends a message that money, status, power and awards are more important than the safety and well-being of another human being,” said Amy Malin.
Β
The Ray Rice case has intensified interest in how the Panthers and the NFL will handle Greg Hardy. The defensive end was convicted in July of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Β
Hardy is appealing the conviction so the NFL is waiting to administer penalties.
