Investigator's report slams handling of Rice case

The NFL failed to discipline Ray Rice properly because of a weak domestic abuse policy and an investigative system too reliant on information from law enforcement, according to a report released on Thursday.

The report from a former FBI director hired to investigate found no evidence the league saw in advance - or covered up - a video of the Ravens running back knocking out his fiancee in a casino elevator.

It confirmed what the NFL and many fans long ago concluded: The initial two-game suspension was insufficient because the league's immediate investigation was superficial.

Team owners said on Thursday the league had learned from the crisis and the owners were solidly behind commissioner Roger Goodell and his new approach to domestic violence.

The 96-page report by Robert S. Mueller III said Goodell and his investigators might have seen the video of Rice hitting Janay Palmer before handing down the suspension had they tried harder.

"The NFL should have done more with the information it had and should have taken additional steps to obtain all available information about the Feb 15 incident," Mueller said in a statement after releasing his report.

The report said a review of phone records and e-mails of NFL employees showed no evidence that anyone in the league had seen the graphic video before it hit the Internet in September.

A law enforcement official showed Associated Press videos of the incident and said he mailed a DVD to NFL headquarters in April.

The private investigation, without subpoena power, did not include any contact with the law enforcement official who showed AP the videos.