REPORT: NFL Official Was Sent The Ray Rice Elevator Tape In April

An NFL executive was sent the video of Ray Rice hitting his fiancee in April, a law enforcement source told the Associated Press.

The NFL claims it didn't see the tape until TMZ published it Monday. Roger Goodell told the league's owners in a memo that the NFL asked for the tape from several law enforcement entities, but those entities were not permitted to hand it over.

The AP's source contradicts that assertion. He says he sent the tape to the league and someone at the league told him, "You're right. It's terrible," in a recorded voicemail.

From The AP:

"The person played The Associated Press a 12-second voicemail from an NFL office number on April 9 confirming the video arrived. A female voice expresses thanks and says: 'You're right. It's terrible.'

"The law enforcement official, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, says he had no further communication with any NFL employee and can't confirm anyone watched the video. The person said they were unauthorized to release the video but shared it unsolicited, because they wanted the NFL to have it before deciding on Rice's punishment."

After initially suspending Rice for two games in August, the league suspended him indefinitely and the Baltimore Ravens cut him on Monday after the new video surfaced.

The NFL released a statement on the AP report, saying, "We have no knowledge of this. We are not aware of anyone who possessed or saw the video. before it was made public on Monday. We will look into it."

More coming...