Monday 4 a.m. ET: TMZ releases videotape of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice knocking out his fiancée in an elevator.
Here’s everything that happened in the NFL’s historically bad week
It’s been a flood of a bad news for the NFL over the last seven days, almost all of it self-inflicted. Here’s a timeline of everything that happened this week.
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Monday 10:27 a.m.: NFL states that it had not seen tape prior to TMZ release.
Monday 2:18 p.m.: The Ravens announce the termination of Rice’s contract via Twitter.
Monday 2:41 p.m.: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announces indefinite suspension for Rice based on new video evidence.
Monday 7:39 p.m.: ESPN’s Keith Olbermann calls for everyone involved in the Ray Rice cover-up to resign.
Tuesday 10:45 a.m.: NFL responds to TMZ claim, saying that it had not previously seen the footage.
Tuesday 6:31 p.m.: San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York addresses Ray McDonald assault and the team’s decision to let due process play out.
Tuesday 7:45 p.m.: Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti apologizes for the team’s response to the Ray Rice situation.
Wednesday 8:15 a.m.: Goodell tells CBS This Morning that “No one in the NFL” saw the in-elevator video of Rice striking his fiancée prior to the TMZ release and the account he gave was ambiguous.
Wednesday 10:15 a.m.: Rice’s wife Janay expresses displeasure with punishment.
Wednesday 12:23 p.m.: National Organization for Women calls for Roger Goodell to resign.
Wednesday 2:32 p.m.: Arizona Cardinals linebacker John Abraham mulls retirement after concussion causes short-term memory loss, also cites prolonged memory loss over the past year.
Wednesday 4:51 p.m.: AP reports that law enforcement sent a copy of the Rice tape to an NFL executive in April.
Wednesday 6:20 p.m.: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome states that Rice told him the truth when they met following the incident.
Wednesday 6:31 p.m.: ESPN’s Outside the Lines reports that Rice spat at Palmer.
Wednesday 7:55 p.m.: Reports surface that Goodell would “never” resign his position as commissioner.
Thursday 2:27 p.m.: NFL announces hiring of ex-FBI director Robert Mueller to investigate the league’s handling of Rice’s assault.
Thursday 4:40 p.m.: The Wall Street Journal reports that Goodell backed off investigation because he believed Palmer fell down in the elevator.
Thursday 8:20 p.m.: Ravens return to the field on Thursday Night Football, and here are some fans rationalizing Ray Rice’s actions.
Friday 8:00 a.m.: New York Times reports that brain trauma affects one in three players, a claim with which the NFL agrees.
Friday 4:36 p.m.: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson charged with one felony count of injury to a child. Peterson reportedly used “a switch” to hit his son.
Friday 5:04 p.m.: Vikings deactivate Peterson for their Week 2 game against the New England Patriots.
Friday 6:02 p.m.: Photos surface of the injuries suffered by Peterson’s son.
Friday 7:00 p.m.: Reports surface that Rice did not lie to Goodell during the NFL’s investigation.
Friday 9:38 p.m.: NFL denies agreement on new drug policy, citing “unresolved issues.”
Saturday 2:30 a.m.: Peterson turns himself into Montgomery County, Texas authorities and is released on $15,000 bond.
Saturday 8:00 a.m.: Some Panthers fans hold a rally to support Greg Hardy.
Sunday 10:36 a.m.: The Carolina Panthers announce their decision to deactivate defensive end Greg Hardy. Hardy had been found guilty in July of assaulting and threatening ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.
Sunday 10:43 a.m.: ESPN's Cris Carter gives passionate speech on child abuse.
Sunday 12:06 p.m.: Vikings fan shows up to tailgate dressed like Adrian Peterson carrying a “switch.”
Sunday 1:00 p.m.: Football returns to the field and a bunch of people got injured.
Sunday 1:48 p.m.: Equal rights group UltraViolet flew a plane over MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands with a sign saying #GoodellMustGo.
Sunday 8:20 p.m.: Goodell cancels appearance for Sunday Night Football at Levi’s Stadium and in a game Ray McDonald was playing.
Monday 10:24 a.m.: Rice and NFLPA announce plans to appeal suspension.
Monday 1:19 p.m.: Panthers head coach Ron Rivera calls Hardy situation “fluid,” leaves door open to return to the playing field.
Monday 1:54 p.m.: Peterson releases statement on child abuse charges.
Monday 2:46 p.m.: The Vikings reinstate Peterson, state their belief that he was just “disciplining a child.”
Monday 3:43 p.m.: Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians says he expects Abraham, who previously contemplated retirement because of memory loss due to concussions, to return to team this week.
Monday 7:30 p.m.: A previous allegation of child abuse by Adrian Peterson is reported. Peterson was not charged in the incident after it was determined the 4-year-old was not hit in the forehead by the Vikings running back, but instead hit his forehead on a car seat while being disciplined.
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