According to an ESPN report, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he mishandled the two-game suspension that he gave to Baltimore running back Ray Rice and that tougher penalties will be implemented immediately.
New penalties will be six games for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a repeat offense, according to the network's report. Goodell also said that penalties for a first offense could be increased in some cases.
In a letter to owners that ESPN obtained, Goodell wrote: "At times, however, and despite our best efforts, we fall short of our goals. We clearly did so in response to a recent incident of domestic violence. ... My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future properly reflect our values. "I didn't get it right."
To read the full ESPN report, go here.
