NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell appeared "far more at ease" Friday during his annual State of the League address than he did in September, when he "rambled through a news conference as the NFL battled allegations that it turned a blind eye toward domestic-violence matters involving its players," according to Matthew Futterman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. He promised to "get to the bottom of the mystery" surrounding Deflategate and acknowledged "how difficult the scandal-plagued season has been for him and the league" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/31). SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote the "old Goodell" was present Friday, someone who was "cocksure, dismissive and absolutely in control." It was someone "who is no longer worried about his job" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 1/30). In L.A., Bill Plaschke wrote Goodell has "clearly come a long way from the confused and beaten man who last faced the media" during the Ray Rice scandal. He "bragged about humility, claimed enlightenment and only occasionally smirked while making it clear the NFL was a very popular business." Plaschke: "The message was, it's Goodell's league again, Goodell's show, and he and his $44-million contract were raring to go helmet-to-helmet" (L.A. TIMES, 1/31). YAHOO SPORTS' Erik Adelson wrote the "backbone Goodell lacked in dealing with domestic violence and concussions showed up instantly" when he was asked about the "relatively trivial topic of football air pressure" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/30).
MISSING THE MARK, AGAIN: ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss wrote Goodell "attempted to strike a more humble and personal approach" during the press conference, but there "just seems to be something missing when it comes to connecting with those who follow the game" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 2/1). In Chicago, David Haugh wrote Goodell at his best "humbly reflected on visiting domestic-violence shelters in the wake of the Ray Rice affair," but at his worst, he "haughtily dismissed a legitimate questions from CNN's Rachel Nichols about potential conflict of interest in hiring investigators aligned with the league or NFL owners, giving credence to detractors who view him as arrogant and disconnected." When Goodell "strayed from the script designed to cast him as a man again worthy of America's trust, he gave his critics more ammunition" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/31). In Phoenix, Paola Boivin asked, "Is it really that hard to sound sincere?" Goodell "had his moments" Friday, but in his opening remarks, he "spent just 47 seconds on the issue of domestic abuse, starting with the phrase, 'In another important area...'" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/31). In DC, Adam Kilgore wrote under the header, "Roger Goodell Shows He Hasn't Changed." Kilgore: "Goodell will tell you how much this year humbled him, and then he will disdainfully deflect a perfectly [legitimate] question about the NFL's conflict of interest in regard to its investigations. Goodell will tell you how much he seeks input from players, and then he will trumpet the success of 'Thursday Night Football,' which is one of their biggest complaints" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/31). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote under the header, "Goodell Still Saying A Bunch Of Nothing" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/31). Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan noted the transcript of Goodell's comments quoted him as saying, "We're in a good place in knowing and learning and having a lot more humility." However, he actually said "learning and being more human, having a lot more humility." Sullivan: "The official transcript left out the 'more human' part, striking the mere suggestion that the beneficent commish lacked humanity" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/1).
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK: In L.A., Ryan Parker wrote Nichols on Friday "was on the receiving end of what many are calling a snarky and disrespectful response" from Goodell. Nichols asked whether the league's investigations could be called independent when the league is paying for them. Goodell replied, "Somebody has to pay, Rachel. So unless you're volunteering, which I don't think you are, we will do that." Critics have speculated that Goodell "would not have responded to a male reporter in the same fashion." He appeared "visibly irritated while the question was being asked" (LATIMES.com, 1/30). ESPNW.com's Jane McManus wrote it was an "arrogant and dismissive response to a legitimate question," and the "optics were awful." McManus: "Here is a league trying to improve its image among women, when the commissioner can't treat a female reporter with the professionalism she is due" (ESPNW.com, 1/31). In Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton wrote when Goodell, who earns a reported $44M annually, "feels he has to scoreboard a salaried TV journalist, he puts his insecurities and shortcomings on clear public display" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/31). CSNBayArea.com's Ray Ratto on his Twitter account wrote, "Rachel Nichols throws the first knee to the groin, which we know by Goodell rejecting her clearly well-founded premises." Grantland's Katie Baker wrote, "If only Goodell could treat Rachel Nichols with the respect he accorded a child plant" (TWITTER.com, 1/30).
NOT BUYING WHAT HE'S SELLING: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur wrote Goodell's admitting he has done "some serious soul-searching ... seems at this point a lot like rummaging through one of your roomier closets." Arthur: "He has come to the conclusion that his heroic journey will continue, and there is nowhere to go but up. Humility, like adversity, can mean a lot of things" (TORONTO STAR, 1/31). CSN NEW ENGLAND's Tom Curran wrote under the header, "Goodell Deflategate Stance Shows He's A Fraud." Curran wrote, "There you were Friday, Roger, ... puffing out your chest." Curran: "The 'Ready, Fire, Aim' execution of the 'Deflategate' controversy illustrates just how little the league -- and Goodell -- learned since September" (CSNNE.com, 1/30). A SACRAMENTO BEE editorial reflected on the "Ten Commandments of Football, as passed down by Lord and High Commissioner Roger Goodell." They included, "I am the NFL Commissioner, thy Goodell, and do not forget it," and "Thou shalt not take the name of the Commissioner, thy Goodell, in vain, even when he repeatedly makes public relations blunders" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/1). In Boston, Ben Volin wrote Goodell "doesn't always answer questions directly, but if you know how to parse his words, you can get a pretty good understanding of his message." Volin used his "handy Goodell translator" to explain what the commissioner said on Friday (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1).
LACK OF CREDIBILITY LEADS TO QUESTIONS: SI.com's Michael Rosenberg wrote Goodell's "lack of credibility affects everything he does." Rosenberg: "When he says he will hire a chief medical officer, players are skeptical. It seems like another cheap public-relations move, whether it is or not. ... When Goodell says Saints owner Tom Benson is mentally fit to own a team, effectively taking a side in an ugly legal battle that promises to get uglier, is he sure? Or is he just covering for an owner again?" (SI.com, 1/30). In Seattle, Larry Stone wrote Goodell's credibility "is at a low ebb" and noted players wonder why he "talks about player safety but continues to subject them to games on Thursday and toys with an 18-game schedule" (SEATTLE TIMES, 1/31). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "When he’s asked about restoring faith in the league, he basically starts talking about all the people who have been hired that are going to improve that faith." Jones: "You’re not going to hire confidence. You’re not going to hire your way to getting to people and making them believe in you. If you’ve got to hire your way into doing that, what is that saying about the current state of affairs in your office?" ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan: "It’s going to be a while before that credibility is restored. You gain credibility over many, many years, and you can lose it in an instant" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/30).
