NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appeared contrite during a press conference regarding the recent string of domestic violence cases involving professional football players, Friday afternoon. He acknowledged that he “got it wrong” in handling the Ray Rice scandal, and promised to do better in the future. Still, the commissioner said maintained that he does not believe he should have to resign. 

Goodell insisted, “At our best, the NFL sets an example that makes a positive difference.” But, he said, “Unfortunately over the past several weeks we have seen all too much of the NFL doing wrong, and that starts with me.” He went on, “We will re-examine, enhance and improve all of our current programs, and then we’ll do more.

Many people have been calling for the commissioner to step down since a video was released showing Baltimore Ravens player Ray Rice punching his then-fiance, Janay Palmer in an elevator. Reports surfaced that officials within the NFL saw the video before it was made public, but when asked at the conference Goodell maintained that was not the case. In any case, many are angry that Rice was not properly penalized for the attack until after the video was released, since Goodell had already seen a video from after the attack, in which Rice dragged an unconscious Palmer out of the elevator.

At the conference, Goodell said he never even considered resigning, and that “I believe I have the support of the (team) owners.” Still, he acknowledged, “I got it wrong on a number of levels from the process that I led to the decision I reached.” He added, “I don’t expect anyone to just take my word. I believe in accountability. I understand the challenges before me, and I will be held accountable for meeting them.”

In an effort to improve, Goodell said, the league has kicked off an initiative to better educate it’s employees on the topic. As he explained, “We are proceeding to implement broad educational programs within our league. Starting within the next thirty days, all league and team personnel…will participate in education sessions on domestic violence and sexual assault.” In addition, on Thursday the league announced new partnerships with the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.