Former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo often said he wasn't going to compromise character in the process of building a football team.
But on Thursday he made a startling charge that NFL teams failed to take action against players in "hundreds and hundreds" of domestic violence cases during his three decades in the league.
"I made a mistake,"Angelo told USA Today. "I was human. I was part of it. I'm not proud of it."
The issue of domestic violence has rocked the league since TMZ released a video on Sept. 8 of former Ravens running back Ray Rice apparently punching his fiancee, now wife, Janay in an Atlantic City, N.J., casino elevator during a February altercation. It has brought national attention to the Ravens franchise and the NFL for the handling of the case. Commissioner Roger Goodell originally suspended Rice for two games and when the video surfaced publicly Rice was suspended indefinitely, a punishment the NFLPA is appealing.
"We were surprised by Jerry's comments and do not know what he is referring to," the Bears said in a statement.
Former Bears college scouting director Greg Gabriel told the Tribune he was not aware of a single domestic-violence issue within the organization during his tenure under Angelo from 2001 to 2010. Gabriel said former coach Lovie Smith was very clear to the front office and locker room alike that he wanted nothing to do with players involved in domestic violence.
"Lovie said, 'I'm not looking the other way if you hit a woman,'" Gabriel said.
Another former Bears executive under Angelo told the Tribune he also was not aware of any domestic violence issues while the GM led the organization.
"That's a pretty attention-grabbing figure," said the source. "I can't recall a single one at Halas Hall."
Angelo didn't provide specifics in the article and it is pretty clear he was speaking about the league as a whole.
"We're in the business of winning football games," Angelo said when he worked for the Bears. "We're not going to prostitute character. We don't put winning in front of character.
"We certainly want good citizens, but we're not looking for choirboys either. There are guys who I wouldn't necessarily want for my neighbor, but who play football and you want on your side. The way we define character is a passion for the game, work ethic, intelligence relative to what they're asked to do. Guys who don't like to lose and who are team players."
But in his comments to USA Today, Angelo alludes to looking the other way: "OK, is everybody OK? Yeah. How are they doing? Good. And then we'd just move on. We'd move on."
Angelo, who has not worked in the league since being fired after the 2011 season, worked for the Cowboys, Giants and Buccaneers before joining the Bears. The most serious legal trouble entangling the Bears during Angelo's tenure was a series of weapons charges against defensive tackle Tank Johnson. Running back Cedric Benson was arrested multiple times for alcohol-related issues. Sam Hurd was arrested in December 2011 and subsequently convicted on drug dealing charges. There were no publicly revealed domestic violence cases involving the Bears during his tenure.
"We knew it was wrong," Angelo told USA Today. "For whatever reason, it just kind of got glossed over. I'm no psychiatrist, so I can't really get into what that part of it is. I'm just telling you how I was. I have to look at myself first. And I was part of that, but I didn't stand alone."
Angelo told USA Today his perspective changed after seeing the Rice video.
The bomb from Angelo came on the heels of Wednesday's NFL owners meeting in New York when Goodell estimated more than half of the 91/2-hour meeting was spent reviewing the league's personal conduct policy and changes that will be forthcoming.
Rice isn't the only player with legal issues. Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been suspended indefinitely after being charged with felony child abuse and Thursday prosecutors moved to revoke his bond after he admitted to smoking marijuana while out on bail.
Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy has been placed on the exempt list while a criminal case against him on domestic violence charges makes its way through the North Carolina court system. 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald also has been accused of domestic violence but is continuing to play as he has not been charged.
In a less-publicized case, Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer pleaded not guilty on Monday to hitting his wife. In explaining to USA Today why domestic issues were kept quiet, Angelo said it was a competitive issue, leading one to wonder if he indeed compromised himself.
"Our business is to win games," Angelo said. "We have to win games, and the commissioner's job is to make sure the credibility of the National Football League is held in the highest esteem. But to start with that, you have to know who's representing the shield.
"We got our priorities a little out of order."
Angelo defended Goodell in the article. Goodell has been roundly criticized since the Rice video was released. The NFL claims it did not see it until TMZ released it but the Associated Press reported a copy was sent to the league office months earlier. Owners have supported the commissioner publicly. A revised personal conduct policy is expected to be finalized before the Super Bowl.
The NFL hired former FBI director Robert Mueller to investigate the league's handling of the Rice case and the findings will be made public. It is expected to be months before it is complete.