NFL football commissioner Roger Goodell arrives at the headquarters of the National Domestic Violence hotline Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AUSTIN, Texas – Facing criticism about the handling of recent abuse cases, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spent three hours Saturday night visiting the headquarters of the National Domestic Violence Hotline and getting an up-close look at the realities victims face.
Hotline CEO Katie Ray-Jones, whose organization has received a multiyear, multimillion dollar pledge of assistance from the NFL, described the private meeting as “emotional” for Goodell.
“At one point he was physically moved to tears as he heard stories from our advocates about what women were encountering, that we took today,” Ray-Jones said.
Hotline officials had invited Goodell to visit the facility, which is housed in a non-descript, unmarked building in suburban Austin.
“Doing the work, as they say,” was all Goodell would say when as he and several league officials walked into the building. He gave a brief wave to cameras when he stepped out of his limousine.