The president of a powerful women's group on Wednesday called for Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the N.F.L., to resign for mishandling the league's policy on domestic violence.
'The N.F.L. has lost its way,' said Terry O'Neill, the president of the National Organization for Women. 'It doesn't have a Ray Rice problem; it has a violence against women problem.'
In July, Goodell disciplined Rice, a star running back for the Ravens, with a two-game suspension for being accused of assaulting his fiancée, a penalty that was widely criticized as too lenient. On Monday, a new, more graphic video emerged of the altercation, prompting the Ravens to release Rice and the league to suspend him indefinitely.
O'Neill also called for the league to appoint an independent investigator to gather data about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking within the N.F.L. community and to recommend reforms.
'The N.F.L. sets the example for college, high school, middle school and even elementary school football programs,' she added. 'And the example it is setting right now is simply unacceptable.'
Goodell said in an interview on 'CBS This Morning' that he was used to criticism and that he had no plans to leave his position.
'Every day I have to, to do a better job,' he said. 'And that's my responsibility to the game, to the N.F.L., and to what I see as society. People expect a lot from the N.F.L. We accept that.'
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