ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive five months ago, while Commissioner Roger Goodell has insisted the league didn’t see the violent images until this week.

The person played The Associated Press a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number on April 9 confirming the video arrived. A female voice expresses thanks and says: “You’re right. It’s terrible.”

Hours after the report Wednesday, Goodell announced former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III will conduct a probe into how the league pursued and handled evidence as it investigated claims against Rice.



FCC head: ‘Redskins’ is ‘offensive and derogatory’: WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Federal Communications Commission says the Washington Redskinsnickname is “offensive and derogatory.”

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler told Broadcasting & Cable that he hopes Redskins owner Dan Snyder will change the name without any formal action from the regulatory body.

Said Wheeler: “I don’t use the term personally and I think it is offensive and derogatory. ... I am a Civil War buff, and there were a lot of terms that were appropriate at that time that aren’t appropriate anymore.”

There have been calls for the FCC to challenge the license of Snyder’s radio stations because of the use of the word, but Wheeler said: “I hope that this is something that if enough people express themselves, Dan Snyder can see which way things are going.”



Cardinals OLB Abraham leaves team, may retire: TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Outside linebacker Jonathan Abraham has left the Arizona Cardinals and is considering retiring from the game.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said on Wednesday that Abraham, the game’s active sacks leader and ninth on the NFL’s career list with 133 ½, has been granted a leave of absence. The team obtained a roster exemption, using it to re-sign linebacker Marcus Benard.