Goodell Indicates League Wants Rooney In Control Of Steelers

Goodell Wants To Keep Dan Rooney,  Art Rooney II In Control Of Steelers

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell  indicated that the NFL and team owners "will do everything in their power to keep" Steelers Chair Dan Rooney and his son, President Art Rooney II, in control of the franchise, according to Ed Bouchette of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Goodell yesterday following a meeting with the Rooney family about possible ownership changes, said, "There's great respect for the Rooney family in the [NFL], and we want to do everything we can to ensure that the Steelers continue to be operated by the Rooneys." Pat, Tim, John and Art Jr. have two offers to sell their combined 64% stake in the team, one from Dan and Art II, and the other from Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Capital Management Chair Stanley Druckenmiller. Goodell indicated that the four brothers should not assume that "if they accept a higher offer than Dan Rooney's that the NFL owners will approve it." Goodell: "We were very clear too that this issue is subject to a three-fourths vote of the ownership, as any ownership transfer is, and that's something that is very important to the league and we will make sure our league interests are respected." Goodell, "to help make that point, perhaps," invited Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson, Bengals Owner Mike Brown and Saints Owner Tom Benson to sit in on the meeting. Goodell: "If Dan Rooney wants an opportunity to continue to run the franchise, I think that's an interest some owners have" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/27). Goodell said that he "plans to meet with the brothers again at a date to be determined" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 8/27).