The original claims made by Jerry Angelo were due to a USA Today story broke by Josh Peter on Thursday and the quotes from Angelo came from an USA Today sports interview where Angelo's criticism of Rodger Goodell lead him to make the controversial statements. According to Josh Peter's story, Angelo had a change of heart and remorse after witnessing the Ray Rice video. Angelo remarked on Goodell stating that he [Goodell] would never cover anything up but also admitted Goodell looked to be playing by the C.Y.A handbook (Cover Your Ass); Angelo would state in his USA Today Sports interview that Goodell may have his 'priorities a little out of order'. Angelo would make his now infamous, now self professed 'out of context' quote about how hundreds of cases of domestic violence are getting swept up under the rug, alongside with his role in the ugly matter during the interview:
"I made a mistake...I was human. I was part of it. I'm not proud of it...OK, is everybody OK? Yeah. How are they doing? Good. And then we'd just move on. We'd move on...We knew it was wrong…For whatever reason, it just kind of got glossed over. I'm no psychiatrist, so I can't really get into what that part of it is. I'm just telling you how I was. I've got to look at myself first. And I was part of that, but I didn't stand alone...Our business is to win games...We've got to win games, and the commissioner's job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. [Regarding Goodell]But to start with that, you have to know who's representing the shield. We got our priorities a little out of order."
This type of quote made by Jerry Angelo certainly seems like he understands his part in the cover ups of violence and of the misconduct of organizations and players alike. Additionally, Angelo had no problems with pointing the finger at himself and Goodell just two days ago. Nevertheless, Jerry Angelo would attempt to retract those statements yesterday while being quoted on CSNChicago.com:
"That ‘hundreds and hundreds’ was taken totally out of context...When I was making a point to this person, I was making a point that over my 31 years in the National Football League I’ve seen a lot of changes. There were hundreds and hundreds of things over those years that I’ve seen that have gotten better. Domestic violence is one of those. There were no hundreds and hundreds [of cases] of domestic violence. I would have no knowledge of that or have any idea how I would authenticate that. . . . That was never the intent of [the writer’s] conversation with me."
Despite Angelo trying to backtrack on now heated words, his statements have found opposition across the board from NFL authorities. The same day of Angelo's quotes, the Chicago Bears released a statement via the Chicago Sun-Times (albeit a vague, aloft and conceited one) in contrast to what Jerry Angelo claimed, "We were surprised by Jerry's comments and do not know what he is referring to." If you thought Angelo's backtrack quote and the Bears organizational stance of moral amnesia on Angelo's words were priceless, then you will most likely love the heated words via former Head Coach Mike Ditka about Angelo while on The Waddle and Silvy ESPN Radio Show:
"[About Angelo]Gutless...If you didn't do anything about it while running the team, shut up, don't live in the past...why didn't you do something then...[Domestic violence]that was never covered up, never. I didn't know anything about that...maybe somebody having a little bit too much to drink, yeah, we would cover that up once in a while. We would overlook it and that wasn't right either. [Angelo] He's right about the one thing...you want the player playing."
One of the few ESPN commentators/ reporters to cover this story in circumspect was Kieth Olberman on his ESPN show. Olberman boldly stated that even if Jerry Angelo was 'misquoted' he was probably right. While many around the league are questioning Angelo on his statements, it appears the actual hot topic debate of domestic violence was swept under the rug with regards to what Angelo stated. People are more combative of attacking Angelo than adequately dealing with an epidemic of NFL violence and cover-ups. Unfortunately none should be surprised as the consistent action taken around the league is denial and accusatory distractions. Domestic violence, a major issue which could seriously damage the NFL's reputation if this matter is to be consistently swept to the curb in lieu of protecting violent players so that they may stay active come game day and publicly outing legitimate voices of concern on a clearly out of control, recurring problem in pro football.
References:
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11672631/ex-bears-gm-jerry-angelo-hundreds-domestic-violence-cases-ignored
http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/11675930/ex-bears-gm-jerry-angelo-says-was-not-talking-hundreds-hundreds-domestic-violence-incidents-just-incidents-general
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/10/09/jerry-angelo-chicago-bears-national-football-league/16981865/
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11677031&categoryid=2378529
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/10/jerry-angelo-claims-he-was-taken-out-of-context/
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/former-bears-gm-says-teams-hid-hundreds-of-domestic-violence-cases-from-league-212429165.html
Photography/ Image Courtesy:
Jerry Angelo: Warren Wimmer / Getty Images North America
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