4:03 PM EST: Thank you for following on with our LIVE here at VAVEL! It will be very interesting to see how everything shakes out from here.
4:02 PM EST: I do not think we learned much here. Goodell realizes that there is a problem with the policy. He is sorry for his mistakes, realizes change is needed, and wants help in deciding how to do it. It did get a little testy at times, but the commissioner did not really answer any of the tough questions. He knows that he and the NFL did wrong, but it is time to move on.
3:59 PM EST: Almost 45 minutes long.
3:59 PM EST: Press Conference is over.
3:58 PM EST: Goodell does not seem interested in exposing any questions that are being asked. Realizes there is a problem, he is getting help to fix it.
3:55 PM EST: TMZ reporter calls out Goodell for claiming to not being able to find the tape from inside the elevator.
3:54 PM EST: The guy disrupting the press conference appears to be from the Howard Stern show. Hilarious.
3:51 PM EST: "Don't take me to an elevator!" Disruption to the press conference. Well, at least their voice was on TV. Whoever did it received the attention of the entire room!
3:50 PM EST: "We did not have the right voices at the table." Question was asked about women being involved in suspension process.
3:48 PM EST: Goodell says he has never been personally abused.
3:48 PM EST: Goodell seems to be answering the questions the same way. Straight, by the book answers.
3:48 PM EST: NFL will look for experts to help them decide how to improve the policy.
3:47 PM EST: "This is not a quick fix, this is something that we must work hard at."
3:46 PM EST: Claims that he does not know if sponsors almost pulled out.
3:45 PM EST: The commissioner clearly dodges sponsor questions.
3:44 PM EST: Goodell feels he has full support from league owners.
3:41 PM EST: Goodell: "Policy itself was not up to standards. We had to go back and fix our policy."
3:40 PM EST: Goodell clearly sees that the NFL has an issue. He will work to get this cleaned up.
3:38 PM EST: Very interesting what Goodell is saying about. Many reports say that Rice was completely honest with commissioner.
3:37 PM EST: Goodell is claiming the appeals process is why he cannot give specifics on Rice case. Dodging the question.
3:36 PM EST: Tape inside of elevator was not consistent with what Rice originally told Goodell.
3:35 PM EST: "We do not have a clear and consistent policy."
3:34 PM EST: Goodell is admitting that the procedures need changed, and the NFL will bring in experts to help them decide what to do next.
3:33 PM EST: "I acknowledged my mistake." Goodell, after being asked why he thinks he should keep his job.
3:32 PM EST: Says he is focused on his job, not leaving.
3:32 PM EST: Goodell has not consider resigning.
3:31 PM EST: "Disappointed in what Adrian Peterson is involved with. I have two daugthers, it was very difficult to see." Roger Goodell.
3:29 PM EST: Goodell says league asked for Rice tape on "several occasions."
3:27 PM EST: Goodell is taking full accountability for this.
3:26 PM EST: "I'm not satisfied by the way we handled it from the get go. We made mistakes."
3:25 PM EST: Goodell announces that he will start a "Conduct Committee."
3:25 PM EST: Goodell and a group of NFL and NFLPA executives will make the changes to the Personal Conduct Policy.
3:24 PM EST: "My goal is to complete this by the Super Bowl."
3:24 PM EST: "There will be changes to Personal Conduct Policy, nothing is off the table."
3:23 PM EST: NFLPA president and Goodell stand together on this issue.
3:22 PM EST: The Commissioner says it is a privledge to work for the NFL.
3:22 PM EST: Goodell: "Everyone deserves a fair process."
3:21 PM EST: "Domestic violence, including chlild abuse..., these activites must be stopped by discipline."
3:20 PM EST: Patnership with big time domestic violence hotlines.
3:20 PM EST: The commissioner is asking for help from law enforcement with this issue.
3:19 PM EST: Goodell announces that each NFL team will recieve education to "raise domestic violence awareness."
3:18 PM EST: Goodell claims to get "Our house in order, first."
3:17 PM EST: "I got it wrong, but now I will get it right." Goodell on Ray Rice situation.
3:17 PM EST: Goodell says blame start with him.
3:16 PM EST: Here we go. Commissioner has arrived.
3:15 PM EST: NFL Network says Goodell is about a minute or two away.
3:13 PM EST: Looks like the media crowd is a little light for this press conference. Surprising, but it was just announced today.
3:10 PM EST: Looks like the NFL is not holding back on the drug policy. Expect similar strict discipline in the revision of the Personal Conduct Policy as well.
3:09 PM EST: "Players who test positive for banned stimulants in the off-season will no longer be suspended. Instead, the player will be referred to the substance abuse program. Players who test positive for banned stimulants during the season will continue to be suspended without pay for four games."
3:08 PM EST: Continued drug policy: "A second violation of the steroid policy will result in a suspension without pay of 10 games. A third violation will result in banishment for a minimum of two years. "
3:07 PM EST: From a released statement from the league: "A first violation will result in a suspension without pay of up to six games depending on the nature of the violation. Use of a diuretic or masking agent will result in a suspension without pay of two games. Use of a steroid, stimulant, HGH or other banned substance will result in a suspension without pay of four games. Evidence of an attempt to manipulate a test will result in a suspension without pay of six games."
3:06 PM EST: Human Growth Hormones (HGH) are now officially banned by the NFL.
3:05 PM EST: The NFL and NFLPA have also released a revised drug program today.
3:03 PM EST: Big day for Goodell and the NFL. This press conference simply must go well.
3:02 PM EST: Well, 3 PM has passed. These things never seem to start on time though. Expect to see Goodell soon.
3:00 PM EST: Still no sign of the commissioner. Should be ready to start any minute now.
2:58 PM EST: Many reports surfacing that Goodell will ask the union for help with this revised policy.
2:57 PM EST: Questions are surely going to be very difficult for Goodell here, the media is very unlikely to hold back on their criticism.
2:55 PM EST: Press conference expected to start in about five minutes.
2:54 PM EST: While these charges and accusations are simply just wrong to begin with, this effecting the views of NFL sponsors pulls a ton of weight as well. Money talks, the NFL makes a ton of it, and they do not want to lose it.
2:52 PM EST: The NFL is a very proud organization. They do not like having things like this in their backyard. Expect this revision of the Personal Conduct Policy to be harsh against any domestic abuse offenders.
2:49 PM EST: This is a huge day for Goodell. If this does not go well, the screams for him to step down will only get louder.
2:48 PM EST: Hopefully Goodell will shine some light on when to expect Peterson, Hardy and Dwyer back. Would not expect it to be anytime soon, but you have to think that gets brought up.
2:46 PM EST: It will be very interesting to see how the union reacts to what Goodell announces. The commissioner has full control over player discipline, but the union will always have their say.
2:42 PM EST: It also appears that educating players on these issues will be a major point of this press conference.
2:40 PM EST: With all of this controversy surrounding, the 49ers would still be better off holding out McDonald until his case is heard.
2:39 PM EST: Rapoport says that McDonald has not been charged, only accused in his crime, and that is why the 49ers have yet to deactivate him.
2:37 PM EST: Clearly there will be some changes announced in this press conference. Goodell has some serious heat on him with major sponsors like Anheuser-Busch voicing their displeasures.
2:36 PM EST: Rapoport says that Goodell will ask for the Player's Union to cooperate, but he does not need their permission to change the policy.
2:35 PM EST: Ian Rapoport just announed on NFL Network that Goodell will announce that he will "Revise the Personal Conduct Policy" in this press conference.
2:33 PM EST: What is Goodell going to annouce in this press conference? Expect him to talk about a new personal conduct policy that will hammer down players who continue to have off the field issues like this.
2:32 PM EST: Goodell simply could not be silent any longer. Many fans and media members are calling for him to step down with all of these issues. That does not appear to be the reason for this press conference, but I guess you never know. Crazier things have certainly happened.
2:32 PM EST: Many, including NFL great Jerry Rice, have stood up saying that the 49ers need to deactivate McDonald as well. While is case is a little bit less clear than the others, in times like these, it would be a safe move for them to sit him down.
2:31 PM EST: The NFL has suspended Rice indefinitely, while Peterson, Hardy and Dwyer have all been deactivated by their respective teams, while McDonald continues to suit up for the San Francisco 49ers.
2:31 PM EST: These recent abuse cases have put a huge black eye on the league's image. Not only is the public outraged, sponsors are voicing their disgust almost every single day. Peterson's case in particular cause a huge backlash because he is being accused of child abuse.
2:30 PM EST: Goodell is under a lot of pressure right now as NFL players are continually getting in trouble with domestic abuse cases. Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Jonathan Dwyer have all been charged or indicted on abuse cases very recently. This is a serious problem that the NFL simply must get a handle on.
2:30 PM EST: Hello, and welcome to VAVEL USA's coverage of a press conference that is about to take place in New York City. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with the media this afternoon to discuss the issues that the league and its players are having with domestic abuse.