NFL teams
Associated Press 10y

A look at key developments in NFL controversies

NFL, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets

NEW YORK -- The NFL is under pressure from sponsors, fans and lawmakers for its handling of domestic violence allegations against several players. At issue is whether the league is acting swiftly enough to investigate or discipline players.

Here is a look at key developments Thursday:

CARDINALS' DWYER RELEASED FROM JAIL

Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer was released on $25,000 bond after spending a night in jail. Among the details from law enforcement documents: He allegedly head-butted his wife and broke her nose after she refused his sexual advances. When police arrived, Dwyer hid in a bathroom and his wife said she hadn't been assaulted and denied he was in the home because the running back threatened to kill himself in front of her and their child if she told police about the argument.

SPONSOR WATCH

PepsiCo Inc.'s CEO Indra Nooyi made a double-edged statement on the NFL's problems handling domestic violence, calling some players' behavior "repugnant" but saying that Commissioner Roger Goodell is "a man of integrity." The statement illustrated the position many sponsors are in with the league. It would be difficult for a sponsor to actually give up on the NFL's power as a marketing machine. An average of 17.4 million people tune in during a regular-season NFL game.

VICK'S VIEW

New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick, who was reinstated to play after serving time in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring, believes the NFL commissioner is doing a "great job" managing the league's crisis over domestic violence allegations. "I think some situations are more complicated than others," Vick said. "You're not going to get it right all the time on the first time. These situations that are arising are situations that we have never dealt with before in the NFL from a PR standpoint, just from a situational standpoint."

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