The video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee Janay Palmer inside a casino elevator and knocking her unconscious was sent to NFL headquarters in April, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The video was addressed to NFL security chief Jeffrey Miller.
As we know, the NFL has insisted law enforcement officials did not make the footage available to them. Miller said Thursday that he never received the video. The official who told the AP the tape was sent to the NFL said he did not know if Miller ever opened the package or watched the video. The official claims the league offices did, however, confirm that they received the package.
“Since the NFLPA and NFL have launched separate investigations into the league and the Ravens’ handling of Ray Rice’s case, I want to make a few things clear,” the law enforcement official said Thursday. “No one from the NFL ever asked me for the inside-elevator video. I mailed it anonymously to Jeff Miller because he’s their head of security. I attached a note saying: ‘Ray Rice elevator video. You have to see it. It’s terrible.’ I provided a number for a disposable cellphone and asked for confirmation that it was received. I knew there was a possibility Mr. Miller may not get the video, but I hoped it would land in the right hands.”
Miller, who is currently in London for the Oakland Raiders-Miami Dolphins game, reiterated that he didn’t see the video prior to TMZ publishing it.
“I unequivocally deny that I received at any time a copy of the video, and I had not watched it until it was made public on September 8,” he said in a statement.
The official added that his intention was not to “bring down” Roger Goodell but simply to give the league an opportunity to see the footage before deciding on Rice’s punishment. He also said he received a 12-second voicemail from a woman — whose identity he did not know — at the league offices telling him, “You’re right, it’s terrible.”
While the new revelation will turn up the heat on the NFL even more, it shouldn’t surprise anyone. Goodell and company either saw the tape and won’t admit it or made no effort to see it. In fact, there’s a good chance they made a strong effort to not see it.
