‘TODAY’ Exclusive: Peter Alexander Interviews NFL’s Social Responsibility Team

NEW YORK – October 21, 2014 — In an exclusive interview, NBC News’ Peter Alexander sat down with the NFL’s newly-appointed Vice President of Social Responsibility Anna Isaacson, senior adviser Lisa Friel, and Director of Player Engagement and Education Deana Garner-Smith. The interview will air tomorrow, Wednesday, October 22 on NBC’s TODAY. In their first television interview, Isaacson, Friel and Garner-Smith spoke to Alexander about their plans to help lead and shape the NFL’s policies and programs relating to domestic violence and sexual assault. TODAY will also air a first look at the new NO MORE PSA Campaign starring former and current NFL players.

Excerpts from the interview follow. If used, please credit NBC’s TODAY with air-date of Wednesday, October 22. The video will be available on TODAY.com tomorrow after the interview airs.

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LISA FRIEL
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about this and say you should be thrown out of the league forever on a first defense, and I think if you talk to any expert in this field, they would tell you that that would be a very, very bad idea because no one will report if that happens. These are underreported crimes as it is and that will only discourage reporting. I think we need to have an opportunity for people to have a second chance, earn their way back into being on the field and playing.

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PETER ALEXANDER
Before you arrived here, was the league tone deaf?

LISA FRIEL
The league was listening to people and they didn’t have all the right voices at the table. And again, this is something the commissioner has said, and I think they have a plethora of voices at the table now.

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PETER ALEXANDER
One of the biggest takeaways that you hope people get out of this program is what?

LISA FRIEL
To recognize the early signs that can later become more serious domestic violence.

PETER ALEXANDER
It doesn’t always start with violence, it starts with little things.

LISA FRIEL
It starts with verbal abuse, it starts with pushing and shoving, it starts with throwing things around and breaking objects in a home.

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