A former NFL executive took a not-so-subtle jab at the troubled league, saying ''a brand is not a shield you can hide behind.''
U.S. Olympic Committee chief marketing officer Lisa Baird made the comment Friday during her presentation to the USOC Assembly. She was a senior vice president at the NFL from 2005-07.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has punished misbehaving players, believing his duty is to ''protect the shield'' - a catchphrase that has been mocked recently. The league recently suspended Ray Rice for two games after he punched his fiancee, then increased the punishment to indefinite when video came out showing him hitting her.
The USOC leadership used Friday's presentation to highlight their recent commitment of more than $10 million for a new independent agency that will investigate sexual abuse allegations in Olympic sports.
