NFLPA director Smith: Goodell 'lied' about 2014 conduct policy changes

NFL Players Association director DeMaurice Smith took aim at Roger Goodell during an interview with Bryant Gumbel that airs Tuesday night on HBO, accusing the commissioner of lying about how the personal conduct policy was changed in 2014 following the Ray Rice scandal and other high-profile incidents.

"When Roger Goodell can stand up there as he did and say, 'We're drafting a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy,'" asked Gumbel, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. "We're gonna do so in conjunction with the union,' and then doesn't consult the union, comes up with a new policy, that says what?"

"That says he lied," responded Smith.

The changes essentially allowed Goodell to act as judge, jury, and executioner when it came to player discipline, and eventually led to the NFL clashing with several big-name players, most notably Tom Brady during the Deflategate scandal.

Many have laid the blame for allowing Goodell to wield such power at the feet of the NFLPA, seemingly causing a rift between Goodell and the NFL owners and Smith.

"He has a job," Smith said. "And I have a job. My relationship with Roger I would argue is irrelevant."

Asked if he trusts Goodell, Smith opted for a more diplomatic answer, but only slightly.

"I don't have the luxury of trust, now do I?" said Smith.

The NFL and NFLPA are once again at loggerheads over Ezekiel Elliott's six-game ban for domestic violence allegations, with the league accusing the union of victim shaming. The NFL suspended Elliott after its investigation found "substantial and persuasive evidence," though the running back was never arrested or charged.