Continuity, But Not Complacency, Stressed For Roger Goodell

Irsay Feels Goodell’s Selection Brings Continuity To The NFL

The election of Roger Goodell to replace Paul Tagliabue as NFL Commissioner “is an indication that owners did not want to tinker substantially with the league,” according to Judy Battista of the N.Y. TIMES. Under Tagliabue, the league is “operating near its peak, a $6[B]-a-year business with a new labor deal, lucrative television contracts and dozens of new stadiums” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/9). Giants President & CEO John Mara: “The continuity was very important to me” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/9). Packers Chair & CEO Bob Harlan added, “I felt we needed someone from the inside. Roger is not going to get shocked by the next labor situation or the next TV situation” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/9). Colts Owner Jim Irsay: “I believe in continuity. That’s what Roger brings us” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/9). Chargers President Dean Spanos said, “There was a consensus among the owners that they wanted the position to stay internal. ... We supported it” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/9). Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt: “Most all of his professional life has been spent there, and that was a major advantage that Roger had” (K.C. STAR, 8/9).

McCaskey Says NFL Entering New Era With Election Of Goodell

COMPLACENCY IS THE ENEMY: While many owners stressed continuity with the election of Goodell, Goodell said status quo “wasn’t my theme. My theme is that it really wasn’t time for status quo. We need to keep innovating, keep changing and find new ways of doing things and try to do things better” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/9). More Goodell: “The league has always tried to find a better way of doing things and be responsive before we need to. That has been a hallmark of our leadership” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/9). Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said the election of Goodell is “certainly an endorsement of Paul and a recognition of his tenure.” But Jones added, “To say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’ is too simplistic. I personally felt one of the plusses of Roger is that he understands that our biggest opponent in the NFL may be complacency. He was a conscious decision by the ownership not to accept complacency” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/9). Bears Chair Michael McCaskey: “It’s a new era. We’re now into the Roger Goodell era, and no organization is perfect. This is a chance to improve” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/9).

Bowlen Says There Is A Lot Of Work Left On NFL’s Labor Agreement

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: In Baltimore, Mike Preston writes Goodell “played a lead role” in the launch of NFL Network and was a “key member of the negotiating teams” for the NFL’s TV agreements and CBA. Patriots Owner Robert Kraft: “Everything he has touched has been a tremendous success. He is continuing something that is very strong” (Baltimore SUN, 8/9). Steelers Owner and search committee co-Chair Dan Rooney noted Goodell has “done everything during his term with the league in all the departments. He knows labor. He knows television. He knows the business end of it and he really knows the fans.” Raiders Owner Al Davis added, “Twenty-five years of experience. You can’t beat that” (USA TODAY, 8/9). Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen: “On all the major decisions, whatever they were, Roger has been on the leading edge” (WASHINGTON POST, 8/9). Redskins Owner Dan Snyder: “The NFL is a complex business. Finding the right person to keep it on course was critical, and we did it. Roger is the right choice” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/9). 49ers co-Owner John York: “He is a strong communicator who quickly grasps the perspective of the owners and is able to come up with solutions that can be endorsed by the majority” (49ers). Raiders CEO Amy Trask: “He has tremendous passion for the game of football and significant experience in matters of importance to the league” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/9).

GOODELL’S CHALLENGES: USA TODAY’s Jim Corbett writes Goodell’s “biggest challenge” is to “keep the labor peace and the good times rolling for a thriving, nearly $6[B]-a-year business.” Bowlen: “There’s a lot of work to do with our labor agreement” (USA TODAY, 8/9). SI’s Peter King wrote Goodell will have a “very short honeymoon.” One team GM said, “His toughest three years will be the first three. We’ve got significant disagreements inside the league with how we share revenue and how big a gap there is between the top- and bottom-earning teams” (SI.com, 8/8). But Jones believes that Goodell “is the perfect hire to patch any such divide among owners.” Jones: “It’s a credit to him that both the high-revenue clubs were worried about him and the low-revenue clubs were worried about him. ... He’s proven his fairness and his integrity” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/9). Goodell said, “The ownership has got a lot more in common than you think. They certainly have differences of opinion on certain things, but they always do what is best for the league. Those issues that we need to get addressed will be addressed promptly” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/9). The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Gary Myers lists five “important issues facing” Goodell (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/9).

L.A.: In L.A., Alan Abrahamson notes Goodell “has for years played a leading role” in the effort to return to the L.A. market (L.A. TIMES, 8/9). Former 49ers and Browns President Carmen Policy: “He understands the [L.A.] dilemma perhaps even better than Paul Tagliabue. As much as Paul was intellectually and strategically in favor of developing the L.A. market, Roger was there on a hands-on, day-to-day basis. In my opinion, he’ll have that very high on his list of priorities.” L.A. Coliseum exec Charlie Isgar: “He’s not going to get sold a bunch of L.A. hype. You’re going to have to show him.” But AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke feels that Goodell “does not necessarily open the door for an NFL franchise to return.” Leiweke: “Roger will follow the general direction and the decision of the ownership group on this one. I don’t think Roger will dictate. While this means good news for [L.A.], it still means there are a group of owners on the Southern California committee, and we have a long way to go with them” (L.A. TIMES, 8/9).

Ebersol Praises Goodell’s Rise Through NFL Ranks

OTHER MARKET ISSUES: Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf called Goodell’s hiring “great news” for the team’s stadium efforts. Wilf: “If someone else were to have come in, it could have been a setback for our stadium efforts. He has a complete understanding of the issues, better than anyone. He’s a strong proponent of the G-3 program. This gives us a seamless transition and moves our plans forward” (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/9). Meanwhile, Mara added, “Roger believes the same way that Paul did that we need to do what we can to help the Saints in [New Orleans]” (USA TODAY, 8/9).

REAX FROM TV PARTNERS: ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer said in a statement, “Roger has been a leader and key decision-maker and shown great passion for the game. We look forward to working with him” (ESPN). NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol: “Roger should take great pride in the fact that he has worked his way up through the league from intern to commissioner” (NBC Universal). CBS News & Sports President Sean McManus: “Roger has been a friend of mine for many years, and a great partner for the past eight years. He's been very fair dealing with all the networks, which isn't always the easiest thing since we all have our different agendas and different priorities. It's been a good relationship” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 8/8). ESPN Senior VP/Programming John Wildhack added, “The NFL is not as successful as it is now without Roger Goodell” (WASHINGTON POST, 8/9).

AIELLO: In Boston, Ron Borges cites sources saying that “one likely change under Goodell” is that NFL Exec VP/Communications & Public Affairs Joe Browne “will retire and be replaced” by NFL VP/PR Greg Aiello (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/9). SI.com’s Don Banks cites sources as saying that under Goodell, “the role of right hand man to the commissioner should eventually pass to” Aiello, as the two are “close in age and have a strong working relationship. Look for Aiello’s star to rise” (SI.com, 8/8).

See more images from the NFL owner's meetings in Chicago.