Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

Owners Continue Support Of Goodell, But Concerned He May Resign Due To Backlash

There is "concern among those at the top of NFL teams" that Commissioner Roger Goodell "might resign given the public backlash coming out against him," according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSPORTS.com. While some in the media and the public "have called for Goodell's ouster, it's not very likely." There has been "no backlash from sponsors and Goodell's constituents -- the 32 that truly matter -- are in his corner." Sources anticipate the independent investigation into the Ray Rice matter "ultimately having strong consequences for some in NFL Security and other corridors of the NFL office, but the odds of it reaching Goodell, based on what is known to this point, seem remote" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/14). 

OWNERS DEFEND GOODELL: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said that Goodell has 100% support "from the owners, despite mistakes he made" during the Rice controversy. Jones said that the integrity of the league "is important and domestic abuse is a serious issue that they want to get right." But he also said that Goodell has "done an amazing job and they will reiterate their support for him at a league meeting" in N.Y. this week. Jones: “Roger has done an amazing job for the game and that’s where I’m going with this. At the end of the day, there are a lot of issues, but it’s important to keep our eye on the game, the integrity of the game and what we want the game to be." He added, "That’s not in any way to not say and express the seriousness that’s involved with domestic abuse. That’s terrible and serious and I’ll ensure you that everyone is uniform in doing what we can do to use the strengths of the NFL to influence that, and we can" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/15). ESPN.com's John Keim noted Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder on Saturday "made it clear that he still supports" the commissioner. Snyder: "Roger Goodell has always had the best interests of football at heart, both on and off the field. We are fortunate to have him as our Commissioner" (ESPN.com, 9/13). Broncos President & CEO Joe Ellis said Goodell "is a man of integrity who has dedicated his life" to the league. Ellis: "His moral compass is headed in the right direction." He added, "It's difficult to watch the momentum of negativity. I believe Roger approaches things based on what's right and what's best for everyone involved in the NFL" (DENVER POST, 9/14).

DOING HIS JOB FOR OWNERS: HBO's Bryant Gumbel said there is "no evidence to suggest that his job is on the line," as his fate is "controlled by billionaires who care most about him making them money." Gumbel: "Not whether he lied or not, not how he bungled this or not. Until and unless they're prepared to say, ‘We care more about a social issue’ than they do about money, I don't think there's any reason to suspect he'll be fired” (“Meet the Press,” NBC, 9/14). In N.Y., Joe Nocera wrote team owners have "zero interest" in letting Goodell go, as he "makes them money." Goodell "takes the heat for them when they need him to" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/13). In Cleveland, Bud Shaw wrote the call for Goodell to resign or get fired, "while understandable, seems doomed to failure." He has "carried the banner for his owners quite well," and he "only becomes a liability if he starts costing the owners money" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/14). In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino wrote Goodell "remains popular with the owners because the league has never made more money or been more popular." However, he wrote it is "likely that Goodell will have to step down" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/14). Meanwhile, former S.F. Mayor Willie Brown in a special to the S.F. CHRONICLE wrote, "The league needs a new face at the top, big time, and I suggest Condoleezza Rice" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/14). 

SURVIVE & ADVANCE: In N.Y., Alan Schwarz writes Goodell during his eight years as commissioner "has deflected many crises that threatened the league’s integrity and public image." He has "survived them all -- largely because team owners are pleased with the league’s soaring revenue under Goodell’s stewardship." Their calculation is that the "profits are worth any setbacks that result from a crisis-management style that has been called everything from clumsy to, last week, conspiratorial." Schwarz: "Never has the man who considers his job to 'protect the shield' ... been more in need of a shield himself" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/15). ESPN the Magazine's Don Van Natta Jr. said of Goodell, "He preached constantly since taking over this job in 2006 accountability, integrity, credibility. And there are major questions about that now. He says, ‘You've got to protect the shield.’  Everything he does is to protect the shield. The question is whether his behavior in this particular investigation has actually tarnished the shield” ("Outside The Lines," ESPN2, 9/14).

FEELING THE HEAT
: In Miami, Greg Cote wrote Goodell is "being sacked from all sides by his own misbehaving football players and by his apparent inability to either make them behave or to mete out punishment that is fair, consistent, logical and not causing public outrage" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/14). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote the Rice ordeal was "one giant misstep by Goodell, one that could have been avoided had he just acted like a responsible adult the first time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/14). St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell said, "More than ever it just feels like whatever the rules of engagement are for Roger Goodell, they're just making it up as they go along" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN2, 9/14). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote Goodell "didn’t create this violent culture any more than he is the only one to blame." Goodell is "just the latest forced to reconcile his responsibilities to his players and to the public against his primary job: Keeping the money coming in for his owners" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/14).

TIME TO GIVE UP SOME RESPONSIBILITY: NBC's Bob Costas said, “It’s pretty clear that one of the things that will happen coming out of this is that the days of Roger Goodell or any other commissioner as judge and jury for off-the-field offenses will come to an end.” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth added, “And it’s long overdue. It’s the biggest mistake of Roger Goodell's career" ("Football Night In America," NBC, 9/14). ESPN's Jemele Hill: "How can he really be in charge of the personal-conduct policy after this, seeing how he's fumbled this whole thing?” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN2, 9/14).

BOTTOM LINE: FIVE THIRTY EIGHT's Nate Silver wrote under the header, "NFL Owners May Be Overvaluing Goodell." The NFL is "probably the most valuable sports league in the world," and its 32 franchises are worth a collective $45B. But the bulk of the league's growth "occurred under Goodell’s predecessor, Paul Tagliabue." Since Goodell "took over as commissioner in 2006, NFL franchises have risen in value" by 32%, net of inflation. That is the "lowest of the North American leagues by some margin." NHL franchises "have increased in value" by 114%, MLB franchises by 82% and NBA franchises by 65% over the same period. Broken down in terms of "annual growth rates: NFL franchise values grew at an annualized rate" of 11.7% from '91-06 under Tagliabue and just 3.5% per year since '06 under Goodell. The NFL did "such a good job of expanding its reach and protecting its brand under Tagliabue and Pete Rozelle that even a mediocre commissioner could be in a position to look good." Compared to his predecessors and his counterparts in other leagues, Goodell’s value to the NFL’s bottom line "hasn’t been quite so clear" (FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.com, 9/12).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/09/15/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Goodell.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2014/09/15/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Goodell.aspx

CLOSE