Much has been made about the apparent unwillingness of Commissioner Roger Goodell to answer questions about the controversial decision to suspend Ravens running back Ray Rice only two games for knocking out his then-fiancée (now wife) in an elevator in February. Earlier this week, the league office dispatched Adolpho Birch to answer questions, and the consensus is that it didn’t go well.
But while Goodell has yet to address the situation with the press, that will end this weekend in Canton.
“The Commissioner meets with the media during the [Hall of Fame] weekend and will do so again this year,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy tells PFT.
It’s safe to say the first question from the assembled media members will relate to Ray Rice. And perhaps the second. And perhaps the third.
It’s also safe to say that it will be difficult for Goodell to say or do anything that will change the near-unanimous belief that a league known for getting it right in most situations has gotten this one incredibly wrong.