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Roger Goodell on Jovan Belcher: 'Not a football tragedy, a human tragedy'

The NFL Commissioner addresses the tragedy.

Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with TIME Magazine recently and he was asked about the Jovan Belcher tragedy.

TIME quotes him as saying...

On hearing about Belcher: "My first thoughts weren't about football at all. This is not a football tragedy. It's a human tragedy that impacts families, loved ones and an innocent child left behind."

On allowing the Sunday Kansas City game to go on: "It was ultimately my decision. But it was important to get the views of the players and try to honor their wishes. [Chiefs chairman] Clark [Hunt] got back to me and said [Coach] Romeo [Crennel] and the captains felt that playing the game-being together as a team and a community-was important. So that's exactly what we did."

That's basically information we knew. Goodell talks about more about concussions and player safety in the article, including this idea to eliminate kickoffs.

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