NFL's Troy Vincent testifies league didn't need 2nd video to discipline Ray Rice
The NFL's handling of the Ray Rice suspension may come under further scrutiny.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent testified Tuesday before a Senate committee that the league didn't need to see video of Rice striking his fiancee before imposing discipline on the ex-Baltimore Ravens running back.
"I don’t think there was a need for a second video to impose proper discipline," Vincent said to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The initial video released in February showed Rice dragging his then-fiancee out of a casino elevator. The couple was married in March. The Rices met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in June to discuss the incident, and the league handed Rice a two-game suspension.
After TMZ obtained and released a second video of Rice clearly striking his wife, his suspension was made indefinite and the Ravens released the 27-year-old star.
Rice won his reinstatement appeal on Nov. 28 and is eligible to immediately sign with a new club.
Former FBI director Robert Mueller is overseeing the case, ostensibly to judge whether commissioner Goodell was culpable in covering up evidence before handing out a two-game suspension to Rice.
- With H/T to Pro Football Talk