Mike Garafolo · @MikeGarafolo
12th Dec 2014 from TwitLonger
Full NFL statement regarding the report of discrepancies over whether they requested the tape:
"The ESPN article written by Don Van Natta distorts the testimony and evidence in the Rice matter. Among the numerous inaccuracies in the story, there are no emails or any other evidence from an NFL investigator stating "I never contacted anyone about the tape." That is a quote not from an email, but from an argument by Rice's own attorney mischaracterizing the evidence. The email in fact explains that, despite his multiple efforts to do so, the investigator was unable to speak with anyone from law enforcement about the tape. The email details the efforts the investigator took in an effort to obtain any and all evidence in the Rice matter. Those steps included contacting and seeking information from the Atlantic City Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Atlantic City Solicitor's Office and the Atlantic County Superior Court.
"As the email explains and as NFL Security Chief Jeff Miller's testimony made clear, none of those agencies was willing to provide the League with any information or evidence beyond copies of Rice's indictment and pretrial intervention records. The suggestion that the league never attempted to contact anyone about the tape or that the Commissioner's September 10 memo to the owners was inaccurate is simply incorrect. In fact, the Commissioner's memorandum fully and accurately described the league's investigation, and Judge Jones did not find otherwise."