ESPN Puts Sports Commentator Bill Simmons On Three Week Suspension For Comments About Roger Goodell

ESPN has placed popular sports commentator Bill Simmons on leave for three weeks after Mr. Simmons made controversial remarks concerning what NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell may or may not have known concerning Baltimore Ravens football player Ray Rice’s violent actions toward his then fiancee, now wife, Janay Palmer. Mr. Simmons said in part, “I really hope somebody calls me or emails me and says I’m in trouble for anything say about Roger Goodell, because if one person says that to me, I’m going public.” Mr. Simmons then went on to allege that Mr. Goodell was not truthful about his statement that he did not know the extent of Mr. Rice’s behavior prior to viewing the video taken in the elevator, which was released earlier this month. ESPN released the following statement:

“Every employee must be accountable to ESPN, and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN’s journalistic standards. We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria. Bill Simmons did not meet those obligations in a recent podcast, and as a result we have suspended him for three weeks.”

According to NPR, ESPN has removed Mr. Simmons’ podcast from its site.

More here from the Hollywood Reporter.