Roger Goodell Tweaks NFL’s Media Policy, Injury Reports

Dungy’s Late Arrival To Super Bowl Would Be Violation Under New Media Policy

The NFL’s revised media policy, announced last week by Commissioner Roger Goodell, mandates that “reasonable access to coordinators and assistant coaches now is required of all teams,” according to Chris Harry of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. That means coaches “must allow their staff to speak and actually be quoted.” Also, on injury reports, each club will have to submit “accurate information relative to a player’s participation in practice.” The choices will be “Out,” “Did not participate in practice,” “Limited participation in practice” and “Full participation in practice.” Harry wrote the new designations “should make things a little clearer” for gamblers. Harry: “Not that the NFL is sidling up to gamblers, but no one can deny the league’s popularity on that front, and there are integrity issues at work there.” In addition, “normal interview policies must be adhered to during the postseason.” Also, each Super Bowl team has to arrive at the site by 5:00pm local time the Monday before the game and make select players and coaches available. Colts coach Tony Dungy showed up after 9:00pm in Miami for this year’s game, “which was too late for some venues to provide live stories” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/13).