Dan Snyder supports Roger Goodell

ByJohn Keim ESPN logo
Saturday, September 13, 2014

Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder made it clear that he still supports NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has come under fire for his handling of the Ray Rice situation.

Snyder issued a three-sentence statement Saturday backing Goodell as many have called for the commissioner to resign or be fired.

"Roger Goodell has always had the best interests of football at heart, both on and off the field," Snyder said in the statement. "We are fortunate to have him as our Commissioner. The entire Washington Redskins organization strongly endorses his efforts to eradicate domestic abuse and the independent investigation into the Ray Rice assault."

Former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III will head an investigation into how Goodell and the NFL handled evidence as it investigated domestic violence claims against Rice.

Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely -- after previously giving him a two-game ban -- after video surfaced Monday of the former Ravens running back hitting his wife and knocking her unconscious.

Goodell also has stood by Snyder as the Redskins' nickname has come under fire.