Goodell Tackles A Number Of Pressing Issues During Address

Goodell Takes Questions For Most Of State Of League Address

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke for about 30 seconds to open his first state of the league address on Friday before opening the floor to questions. He addressed topics ranging from revenue sharing, the league’s pension plan, its image and what the status is on a return to L.A.

REVENUE SHARING: Goodell indicated that team owners “should wait until a more complete analysis of the new [CBA] can be completed before formulating their opinions.” NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen: “I don't think anyone is going bankrupt. We think the agreement is working pretty well.” But Patriots Owner Robert Kraft said, “I think the union did too good a deal the last time. They overreached. We're going to have to recalibrate if we want to keep it going” (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3). Saints Owner Tom Benson: “We have to stop talking about someone overreaching and come up with a fair agreement that works for all of us” (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/4). Steelers Chair Dan Rooney: “The agreement is working. Maybe the clubs should share more revenue, but the CBA is terrific” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/3). Falcons Owner Arthur Blank indicated his team “suffered a cash-flow loss” this season. Blank: “Probably close to half the clubs are feeling the same financial strains [as us]. It is not three or four clubs. ... The difference between the third- and fourth-revenue quartile is humongous and just needs to be dealt with.” SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Daniel Kaplan notes a revenue sharing committee will meet Wednesday to “try to make progress on how to distribute subsidies to needy teams.” But the “arguments between high-and low-revenue teams are becoming increasingly personal and contentious.” Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, on Kraft suggesting the team should sell the naming rights to Ralph Wilson Stadium: “I appreciate Kraft’s suggestion. It recalls the oldest story of life: When you go to a poor guy, he will give you money. When you go to a rich guy, he will give you advice” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/5 issue).

DRUG TESTING: Multiple outlets are reporting that Goodell and NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw have agreed to ban players who test positive for steroids from being named to the Pro Bowl that same year. ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen noted any ban “would have financial implications for some players, because some have Pro Bowl bonuses and base-pay escalators tied to the Pro Bowl that would be negatively affected” (ESPN.com, 2/4). Last week, Kraft said he “would be a big supporter” of such restrictions (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/3). Meanwhile, on the topic of testing players for HGH, Goodell said, “There is no reliable test for HGH right now. We are investing money to develop that test ... but until that technology is developed I think it’s premature for us to make any decisions on it” (THE DAILY).

Upshaw To Meet With Players In Coming Weeks About Off-Field Issues

PLAYER BEHAVIOR: Goodell, “echoing what Upshaw had said Thursday, indicated that he and Upshaw plan to meet in the coming weeks with players to talk about [off-field] issues the players face and what the league and union can do to support them.” But while Upshaw “doesn't think harsher penalties for misbehavior are necessary, Goodell suggested that the next step might be to sanction teams with offending players as well as the players” (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3). Goodell: “We have to make sure our players are more accountable, but I think also our clubs have to be more accountable and we will be reevaluating our position to see if there are ways we should make our clubs more accountable” (THE DAILY). Upshaw: “We’ve seen what has happened in other sports when the fans turn you off. No one wants to come to a game if they don’t have confidence in the players and feel good about the players that are out there” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/3). Appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” Sunday, Goodell said, “We have tried to educate [players] that they’re in a position of great focus and they have to conduct themselves appropriately. Obviously, when you’re dealing with this many people, sometimes you’re going to get some people that stray. When they do, we will deal with that by our enforcement procedures” (“Face The Nation,” CBS, 2/4). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote Tagliabue left Goodell “with few economic issues,” his “problems are social. Crime and drugs” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/3).

PLAYER CONCUSSIONS: Goodell “denied that the situation described by former Patriots [LB] Ted Johnson — that players return too quickly from concussions — was rampant throughout the NFL, but said both he and the Players Association are continuing to fund studies about the long-term effect of concussions and how to prevent them.” Goodell: “We've had a concussion committee that has been studying this issue from a medical standpoint, including 12 doctors — five from the outside and seven from the NFL. ... That's led to new helmet designs, that's led to rules changes, and I think a safer environment for our players.” While Johnson said Patriots coach Bill Belichick pressured him to practice after he sustained a concussion, Goodell said, “I don't think competitive issues should ever override medical issues” (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/3). Goodell added that he is “very concerned about former players having medical issues, and that the league spends $126[M] a year in pension and benefits for former players” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/3).

PENSION: Goodell said the league needs to work with former players to address complaints about their pension ‘intelligently and thoughtfully” (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3). But he was “resistant when told [Mike] Ditka wants the league and players union to prove their funding claims by providing documentation.” Goodell: “I don’t necessarily buy his perspective on that. I know he feels very strongly about that, and I would be more than happy to meet with him to hear it” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/3). In Philadelphia, Ashley Fox wrote Redskins S and NFLPA President Troy Vincent on Thursday, when he “defended the current players’ lack of sympathy for the ailing retired players, ... sounded cold and heartless” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). Tom Nowatzke, President of the NFL alumni chapter in Detroit, said, “Gene Upshaw wouldn’t give me the time of day. I remember it took Johnny Unitas two weeks to get an appointment with him.” In N.Y., Selena Roberts wrote Goodell “had a chance last week to chastise coaches who like to wield their tongue depressors to gag team doctors, ... but he spoke with the evasive zigzags of a running back” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/4).

Former Player Says Belichick Pressured Him To Return To Quickly From Concussion

PLAYER REAX: Cardinals S Robert Griffith: “I don’t have any [sympathy for Johnson]. You have the opportunity to say no. You’re not going to be looked down on if you’ve got a concussion.” But former NFLer Tim Ryan added that players “can’t be protected from themselves because they know a failure to practice or play hurt can cost them their job.” Ryan: “It was never like [coaches] said you have to do it or you’re cut, but when they look you in the eye and say can you go, what are you going to say? At that point you respect your job and the opportunity to play more than you do your body” (BOSTON HERALD, 2/3). Pro Football HOFer Harry Carson: “I think the league is in denial, and I think the league will do everything that it can to discredit anyone who associates concussions that are sustained playing on the field with what happens after the game is over. They have to discredit that, otherwise they might be open to all kinds of lawsuits down the road.” Giants LB Antonio Pierce added, “You think Belichick would test his quarterback? Think he would test Tom Brady or his backup? No” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/3).

MEDIA REAX: A BOSTON GLOBE editorial stated, “NFL owners should do whatever they can to protect the players of today and tomorrow from a similar fate [as Johnson]” (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/3). In K.C., Jason Whitlock wrote, “Retired players are walking around crippled without proper health insurance and benefits because ownership is negligent and their coaches took advantage of them when they were young” (K.C. STAR, 2/4). A SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE editorial: “The league’s habit of downplaying concussions’ long-term health toll is grossly irresponsible. The NFL’s resident concussions expert, Elliot Pellman, is one of the few remaining doctors who defends the common practice of putting players with concussions back into games moments after their injuries” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/3).

GOING TO HOLLYWOOD? In L.A., Steve Dilbeck noted Goodell “once again made it clear” that returning a team to L.A. “is no longer a priority.” Goodell said the NFL has “survived quite well without” L.A., and the city “has survived quite well without the NFL” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/3). L.A. City Council member Bernard Parks was the “only local official to go to Super Bowl XLI.” Parks: “I don’t feel undercut at all. ... I think the league does want to come here. It just takes time to get these things done” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/5).

SAYING GOODBYE: The NFL ran a full-page ad in Sunday’s N.Y. Times with the header “It’s Hard To Say Goodbye ... To the 2006 NFL Season.” The copy noted a number of groups and people including players and coaches, late Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt, Tagliabue, late Broncos CB Darrent Williams, NFL volunteers, league partners and fans (THE DAILY).