NFL Rejects Requests to Release Report on Washington Abuse Allegations | Washington

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The NFL will not release a report on its 10-month investigation into allegations that the Washington football team has suffered harassment and abuse.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Tuesday the league wanted to protect the 150 or so former employees who spoke to outside lawyer Beth Wilkinson, who led the NFL investigation and amassed six million pages of evidence .

“When you promise to protect anonymity, to make sure we’re getting the right information, you have to stick with it,” Goodell said. “And so we’re very conscious of making sure we’re protecting those who have come forward. They were incredibly brave.

Goodell dodged a question about releasing a drafted report, saying he felt what the league had done was appropriate. He said the league was eager to respond to congressional inquiries. Goodell added that the NFL released a summary of its investigation and that Washington owner Daniel Snyder had not been allowed to run any of the franchise’s day-to-day operations since July. The team was also fined $ 10 million as a result of the investigation.

“I think he was held accountable and the organization was held accountable,” Goodell said.

Goodell said the most important thing for the league is for the situation not to happen again with any team.

“So we think we are protecting the people who helped us get to this place, the people who unfortunately have to go through this experience, if we respect them and make sure to protect them,” said the commissioner.

The league published reports in other high-profile investigations into Tom Brady for deflating soccer balls in an AFC title game, offensive lineman Richie Incognito for using a racial slur and Ray Rice for domestic violence.

Earlier today, members of the NFL Social Justice Task Force and owners received a copy of a letter from two former employees of the Washington football team asking them to release a report.

“I [would] I love that this is a learning point, not just for the NFL, but for leagues and teams everywhere, that it shouldn’t be hidden, ”said Ana Nunez, who worked in the business department. of the team until 2019. “No workplace is perfect which is understandable, but there has to be a level of responsibility when it comes to toxic culture and sexual harassment.

Addressing other matters, the commissioner said the league had not made a decision on the future of quarterback Deshaun Watson due to pending legal issues in civil cases still pending. The league is waiting to see all the information gathered in the combinations.

The three-time Pro Bowler faces allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior in 22 active lawsuits and has been inactive for Houston’s first seven games this season.

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