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After Recent Turbulence, Could Domestic Violence Hires Have NFL On The Right Track?

The NFL yesterday made three new hires to advise on domestic violence, the latest move by the league over the last three weeks that shows Commissioner Roger Goodell is "determined to bring change," according to a front-page piece by Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. Critics of Goodell likely will "call this another public relations move" designed to save his job. But if the league "follows through seriously with the initiatives it is proposing, those who are calling for Goodell to resign might find instead that they have no greater ally for the causes they hold dear." Brennan: "I can't recall another league becoming so serious so fast about an off-the-field issue." Appointing these domestic violence experts -- Lisa Friel, Jane Randel and Rita Smith -- was a "good idea, but they will only be as strong as the backing of the commissioner who chose them" (USA TODAY, 9/16). L.A.-based Peace Over Violence Exec Dir Patti Giggans said of the NFL's hires, "These are top-notch people. They are known for their commitment and their expertise in domestic violence and sexual assault. They have a lot of credibility and experience, and they have access to others who can also be helpful in making this paradigm shift." The National Organization for Women said the hires were a "step in the right direction -- but it's not enough" (L.A. TIMES, 9/16). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said, "I applaud the NFL's decision on this matter in terms of including women into the decision-making process as it pertains to these issues. All of these individuals have a strong background, whether it's dealing with domestic abuse, domestic violence or sexual harassment. They all have some experience in dealing with such matters" ("First Take,” ESPN2, 9/16). CBSSPORTS.com's Will Brinson wrote the hires do not "solve the NFL's problem with domestic violence," as many will "point to this as lip service from a league that bungled the Ray Rice situation and domestic violence as a broader issue." But it is "at least a start and positive movement, even if it's only a reaction after a wave of outrage from the general public" (CBSSPORTS.com, 9/15).

FALLING BEHIND
: In N.Y., Claire Atkinson cites a Brand Keys survey as showing that the NFL "just fell from first place to third in fan loyalty versus other sports leagues." The survey "was conducted four days after" the video surfaced last week of Rice punching his then-fiancee. The NFL is "now behind" MLB and the NBA. The previous study was conducted in January '14 (N.Y. POST, 9/16). Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Darren Rovell cited poll results released yesterday that "suggest that the image of the NFL was deteriorating even before the latest series of missteps." Celebrity brand tracker and USC professor Jeetendr Sehdev said that he "polled 3,000 people representative of the general population" from February through May. The results "reflect that the NFL scores in the lowest 10 percent of the 200 brands across four of the seven most important factors of trust: openness, acceptance, compassion and consistency" (ESPN.com, 9/15). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes for the NFL, the "verdict is in," and the league, and its "offending players, are guilty." Sullivan: "Guilty of bad judgment, guilty of callous disregard for common sense, guilty of putting business ahead of humanity." The NFL "is in crisis," and fans are "reaching their tipping point, evidenced by the harshest stretch of public scrutiny in league memory." The "fight to regain credibility is on." It "starts at the top" with Goodell "fending off calls for his job, and it cascades all the way through the individual franchises currently caught in the crosshairs" (Bergen RECORD, 9/16).

SUPPORTING CAST: In N.Y., Hubbuch & Serby note although Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder issued a "statement of support for Goodell on Saturday morning, similar comments from other owners have been conspicuously -- and somewhat suspiciously -- few." But one ownership source said that outsiders "shouldn’t mistake that for a lack of support" for Goodell. The source said that "a lot of owner statements praising Goodell wouldn’t be well-received in the current harsh climate for the embattled commissioner." The owners' intent is to "hunker down along with Goodell and hope that the NFL off-field news cycle doesn’t get any worse and that play on the field can take the spotlight off the sport’s unpopular boss" (N.Y. POST, 9/16). In Boston, Steven Syre notes some chief execs and management academics "have been more cautious on the Goodell question." They said that they would "wait for the results" of former FBI Dir Robert Mueller III’s independent investigation of the Rice case. Syre: "But I can’t see how he could or should survive that report, no matter what it concludes." The report will "almost certainly be part of a larger announcement" and will be "wrapped in some greater commitment to deal with a serious problem." In the NFL, that "means anything that threatens growth of the league’s profitability." Syre: "Can you imagine Roger Goodell standing up as the executive responsible for making good on promises of real change? Any credible plan will need a new leader" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/16).

IN HIDING? In N.Y., Mike Lupica writes following the Vikings' decision to activate RB Adrian Peterson for this Sunday's game is the latest incident to make people wonder "who is running the National Football League right now, because Roger Goodell sure isn’t." Here is the "way things look right now: Adrian Peterson is active in the NFL and its commissioner isn’t" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/16). In Chicago, Mike North asks of Goodell, "Why isn't he on a leave of absence or holding a news conference to explain his actions?" The NFL "doesn't need a glad-hander as a commissioner." Goodell has "lost the players and many of the fans, and his general incompetence and unawareness is mind-boggling" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 9/16). A N.Y. DAILY NEWS editorial states Goodell's "utter failure to delineate clear and consistent rules for what constitutes suspension-worthy misconduct off the field is stunning -- and is permanently staining his tenure atop America’s most powerful professional sports brand." Goodell and NFL team owners are "meting out discipline, or not, based on appearances and make-it-up-as-you-go rules." The editorial: "So, let’s hear it, commissioner. Is it the policy to wait for a determination of guilt or innocence by the criminal justice system before acting?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/16).

PINING FOR THE GOOD OL' DAYS: In Chicago, David Haugh writes the NFL "used to offer an escape," but now it "requires one." Haugh: "We don't want to miss a game, yet lately we can't bear to look too closely. ... Debating concussions, Michael Sam and the Redskins nickname seems like the good ol' days of covering the NFL" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/16). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "Oh how the NFL misses the days when we were talking about stuff like Johnny Football and Michael Sam" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN2, 9/15). Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, Jenni Carlson writes after a week that "left more questions than answers, this we know with certainty -- the NFL brand is scandal proof." There are "lots of folks who are angry with the league," and there are "plenty of big wigs and deep pockets who are monitoring developments in all of these cases." Sponsorships "could be dropped," and heads "could roll." But when it "comes to attending games and watching games, little has changed" (OKLAHOMAN, 9/16).

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