The NFL were sent the video of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice striking his wife in an Atlantic City hotel before its release online on Monday, according to a report.
A law enforcement official claims that he handed a copy of the CCTV footage that shows the 27-year-old punching his then-fiancee to the league three months ago, which culminated in Rice's indefinite suspension by the NFL and release by the Ravens.
A report from The AP also alleges that the official also had a recording of an NFL executive declaring their appreciation for the evidence and then saying: "You're right. It's terrible."
The NFL announced that they hadn't seen the footage of Rice striking his wife until it was released on Monday by TMZ.
