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Anchored by Jake Tapper, The Lead airs at 4 p.m. ET on CNN.
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sports lead
Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton: Fans should boycott NFL games
(CNN) – NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton gave an impassioned reaction to commissioner Roger Goodell's statements Friday, saying the league is trying to cover up a wider problem, and protect star players. Fans, he said, need to do something.
"(Fans) should start writing letters, writing e-mails, and stop going to games," Tarkenton said in an interview with CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper."
FULL POST
sports lead
When can we trust the NFL again?
(CNN) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday announced a sweeping domestic abuse and sexual assault policy for the league's 32 teams, mandating all players and staff undergo education and training about how to prevent abuse.
But did he do enough to quell the criticism being leveled at the NFL, and the lack of trust in the league?
CNN "Unguarded" host Rachel Nichols and Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko discuss.
sports lead
Cardinals cut player with violent history after CNN inquiries
By CNN correspondent Sara Ganim
(CNN) – Just days after the recent Ray Rice scandal broke, the Arizona Cardinals signed a player with a history of domestic abuse arrests, only to fire him today once CNN and other media began asking questions. If he had stayed, he would have been in a good position to replace Jonathan Dwyer, the Cardinals running back who was deactivated after being arrested for domestic abuse.
Chris Rainey has been kicked off three previous teams for bad behavior - twice for domestic abuse-related charges. Each time, he was picked up again by another team.
FULL POST
sports lead
Is domestic violence in the NFL as widespread as portrayed?
(CNN) – In the wake of scandals involving two of its star players, the NFL has a growing image problem, not only with fans, but also with sponsors.
Anheuser-Busch, a beer company that spent $34 million on Super Bowl ads last year, is taking the league to task.
FULL POST
sports lead
ESPN co-host: No evidence yet Goodell is lying
(CNN) – The president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and a chorus of others have called for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's resignation, after reports surfaced that the league saw a video of Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice knocking his fiancee out cold months ago.
Goodell said Tuesday that no one in the league saw the video before TMZ published it online earlier this week.
But not everyone is calling for Goodell's ouster. Indeed, ESPN "First Take" co-host Stephen A. Smith railed against NOW president Terry O'Neill.
"I'm sorry. I think this woman is off her rocker. She's lost her mind. That's right, I said it. Most ridiculous nonsense. Roger Goodell deserves to lose his job because - why are you acting like he's Ray Rice? Roger Goodell did not hit her. He hasn't hit any women," Smith said on ESPN.
Smith walked that back in an interview with CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper," saying he apologizes to O'Neil because he believed she was calling for Goodell's resignation specifically because of his handling of the Ray Rice video.
FULL POST
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