Roger Goodell ... Reason for Not Getting Video Makes NO Sense

Roger Goodell is now doing somersaults to explain why he didn't simply go to the casino and ask for a copy of the Ray Rice elevator video.

Goodell told CBS News, he knew a tape existed and went to law enforcement and asked for a copy but the request was rejected.

So why didn't he then simply go to directly to the source -- the Revel Casino?

Goodell said, "I don't know how TMZ or any other website gets their info. We are particularly reliant on law enforcement, that's the most reliable, the most credible. We don't seek to get that information from sources who are not credible."

THIS MAKES NO SENSE. The police got the tape from the casino, so the police video CANNOT be more credible than the source.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... casino employees told us if the NFL would have requested the video they would have gladly provided it, but no one asked.

An NFL source told TMZ, Tuesday afternoon ... Goodell felt it would be wrong to "go around" law enforcement by contacting the casino and looking at the tape. But we're told all law enforcement told Goodell is they're not giving him the tape -- not that him looking at the tape would interfere with their investigation. Fact is ... it wouldn't.