NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday during his annual State of the League address said the league in the offseason will “focus on innovation and technology in three key areas – the game, player safety and the fan experience.” This includes “establishing a position of Chief Medical Officer ... very soon.” Goodell said with extra points being “virtually automatic,” the league will look at “alternatives to make it a more competitive play.” He also addressed Deflategate, saying, "We have made no judgments. ... I will not compromise the investigation by engaging in speculation."
Goodell said another change could be “potentially expanding replay to penalties if it could be done without more disruption to the pace of the game.” He said of playoff expansion, “There are positives to it, but there are concerns as well, among them being the risk of diluting our regular season and conflicting with college football.” Goodell also broke news that the league is “aggressively pursuing the streaming of a regular season game with our first over-the-top telecast. It would be carried on broadcast stations in both team markets but it would also reach a worldwide audience.”
Goodell, on the future of the Rams in St. Louis: “We want all of our franchises to stay in their current markets. That's a shared responsibility.” He added there have been “no determinations of us going to Los Angeles.” Meanwhile, with Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch avoiding media questions this week, Goodell said, “It is part of your job and there are things that we all have to do in our jobs that we may not necessarily want to do.”
Goodell also said of speaking to Saints Owner Tom Benson a few days ago, “He was in complete control, energetic, excited about getting to the office, asking about league issues. ... Tom Benson is a man of great integrity and a man that is enthusiastic about the NFL, the Saints, New Orleans and somebody that has demonstrated to me he's got complete control over what he's doing to make sure that organization goes in the right direction” ("NFL Network," 1/30).
