Roger Goodell -- I'm Not Getting Fired ... Over Ray Rice Debacle

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he does NOT expect to be fired for the way he handled the Ray Rice situation ... claiming he's "used to criticism."

Goodell spoke with Norah O'Donnell on CBS News Tuesday night -- and he assured her his job as the head of the league is safe.

Sure it is.

And get this ... even after he saw the video from OUTSIDE the elevator, Goodell told O'Donnell it was "ambiguous what actually happened."

O'Donnell shot back -- "But what was ambiguous about her laying unconscious on the floor being dragged out by her feet?"

"There was nothing ambiguous about that," Goodell admitted ... "That was the result that we saw. We did not know what led up to that. We did not know the details of that."