WASHINGTON – President Obama said Friday that professional and college football have been "a little bit of an old boys' network" but that he thinks sports franchises are now establishing clear policies to address off-the-field behavior of their athletes.
"This is not unique to the NFL," Obama said in an ESPN Radio interview. "There have been some blind spots that are rooted not just in pro football but back into college football. … Certain behaviors have been tolerated."
Obama noted the case of Ray Rice, the former Baltimore Ravens running back caught on video in an elevator assaulting his then-fiancée, whom he has since married.
"The way it was handled also indicates that the NFL was behind the curve as a lot of institutions have been behind the curve in sending a clear message. You don't want to be winging it when something like this happens," Obama said.
"The fact that policies have been established, I think, will be helpful in sending the message that there is no place for that kind of behavior in society, whether it is in sports or anyplace else," he said.
A revised conduct policy was put in effect Thursday by the National Football League.
Asked whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had "too many men" around him as he was handling the matter, Obama made an argument for all leaders — including presidents — to promote women and have people of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds on their staffs.
His remarks came in an interview with ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd, who asked several questions about politics in sports.
