NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his State of the League address Friday indicated that he "had been chastened by a season of embarrassing scandals, contentious battles and growing distrust, but that he had no intention of resigning," according to Ken Belson of the N.Y. TIMES. Goodell said, “It’s been a tough year; it has been a tough year for me personally. We obviously, as an organization, have gone through adversity, but, more importantly, it has been adversity for me. That is something where we take that seriously. We’ve all done a lot of soul-searching, starting with yours truly.” Goodell "refused to say whether he deserved to take a pay cut for the way he has led the league." He also "fended off suggestions that he has favored team owners" like the Patriots' Robert Kraft. He said that it was "normal for the commissioner to meet with owners in various settings, including at events in their homes, like the party that Kraft threw" before the AFC Championship. Goodell said of Kraft, "I admire and respect him on a personal level." Meanwhile, Belson noted Goodell "denied that the league had a conflict of interest when it hired lawyers with ties to the NFL to conduct investigations into wrongdoing in the league" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/31).
DEFLATEGATE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY: In Boston, Ben Volin noted Goodell "reiterated several times that the league has not determined whether the Patriots improperly underinflated their footballs in the AFC Championship." But Goodell said that he "takes the accusation seriously, and will not hesitate to give a stern punishment to the Patriots if it is found that they deliberately sidestepped the rules." Goodell: "Whether a competitive advantage is actually gained or not is secondary in my mind to whether that rule is violated. That’s the integrity of our game, and when those rules are violated, we will take that seriously.” Goodell said that he "wouldn’t rule out any type of punishment -- fines, loss of draft picks, suspensions -- until the investigation is completed." He vowed "not to reveal much about the investigation, which is being headed by outside attorney Ted Wells" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/31). Goodell said, "We want the truth. That’s what I think our fans want. That’s what our clubs want. And so what we want to do is make sure that we find that truth." In DC, Mark Maske noted Kraft "was not seen in the audience at Goodell’s news conference but his demand for a prospective apology was the subject of a question to Goodell." The commissioner replied, "This is my job. This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. I represent 32 teams" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/31). In Boston, Ron Borges noted Goodell appeared to "finally get something actually right at the end of his long season of cognitive dissonance when he hinted ... that he didn’t believe he owed Kraft an apology for doing his job." With the way this season has gone, that was a "marked departure from his feelings on some other issues in which he’s been involved" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/31).
TIGHT-LIPPED ON RELOCATION: In L.A., Sam Farmer noted the Rams, Chargers and Raiders "are all on year-to-year leases, unhappy with their current venues and mulling possible relocation to L.A," but Goodell noted that the NFL is "not at the point to handicap which team or teams might wind up" in that market. He said, "We have several alternatives that we're evaluating, both from a site standpoint, there are teams that are interested but are trying to work their issues out locally, and so as a league we haven't gotten to that stage yet. It will all be subject to our relocation policy. There are requirements in that policy, particularly as it relates to cooperation and working to make sure they solve the issues in their local market. But I'm confident all of that will be covered within the relocation policy and with our membership approval" (L.A. TIMES, 1/31). Meanwhile, Goodell said London's response to three NFL games being played there during the '15 season is "better than we ever dreamed." But in London, Peter Carline noted Goodell "stopped short of saying a franchise will be moving across the Atlantic." Goodell "twice dodged a definitive answer to the question" (London DAILY MAIL, 1/31).
OTHER ISSUES DISCUSSED: In N.Y., Manish Mehta noted Goodell "insisted that the league has already started the process to restore faith from the public in what he called a 'year of great progress.'” He "cited the league’s new personal conduct policy and statistics reviewing fewer hits to defenseless players and concussions." A chief medical officer also will "be appointed in the near future" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/31). NFL.com's Conor Orr noted around this time last year, playoff "expansion sounded like an inevitability," but Goodell "appeared less enthused on Friday." Goodell: "There are positives to it, but there are concerns as well, among them being the risk of diluting our regular season and conflicting with college football in January." Last May at the owners meetings, Goodell said that he "expected the expansion to be approved" as soon as the '15 season (NFL.com, 1/30). Meanwhile, Goodell added that the league is "looking at streaming its first-ever regular season game." Goodell: "We are aggressively pursuing the streaming of a regular season game with our first over-the-top telecast." BROADCASTING & CABLE's Tim Baysinger noted Goodell "continued that any OTT telecast would be carried on the local broadcast stations in the competing teams’ markets, but would 'reach a worldwide audience including millions of homes that do not have traditional TV service'” (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 1/30).
AVOIDING THE BIG ISSUES? USA TODAY's Christine Brennan wrote Goodell and the league are "clearly changed by a season remembered most for off-the-field violence," yet it is "apparent that the NFL still is grappling with its new realities." The words "domestic violence" were "mentioned only once in the more-than-hourlong news conference" (USATODAY.com, 1/30). ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert noted moments after Goodell completed his conference, ESPN analyst Bill Polian "cut to a crucial flaw in the presentation." Polian: "Everyone wanted to hear about domestic violence. Everyone wanted to hear about Deflategate. Everyone wanted to hear about the major issues that have affected the league outside of the normal realm of the game. And he led off with the extra point!" Seifert noted Goodell "mentioned the ongoing discussion about the length and difficulty of extra points before referencing any specifics about an ongoing investigation into the integrity of the AFC Championship" (ESPN.com, 1/30). Meanwhile, ESPN's "SportsCenter" panel following the conference addressed Goodell's comment that he is always available to the media. Jemele Hill, laughing, said, "We all know that's not true." Adam Schefter asked anchor Hannah Storm, "How many requests did you make to the commissioner this year?" She replied, "Every week." Schefter: "Every week?" Storm: "Every week." Schefter: "And how many interviews did you get with the commissioner?" Storm: "I didn't get any." Hill: "You're still waiting on that call" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/30).
SPLINTERING RELATIONSHIP: ESPN BOSTON's Mike Reiss reported Kraft did not attend Friday's press conference because he "decided to stay back with the Patriots, who had a team meeting scheduled at this time." He also "went to practice after the team meeting." Kraft's absence from the press conference was noteworthy, as he has "publicly expressed his displeasure with the league's handling" of the Deflategate investigation in terms of "leaks in the media." He "usually is in attendance" at the event (ESPNBOSTON.com, 1/30). Reiss yesterday wrote he believes Kraft "feels stung by Goodell, who he had backed" after the Ray Rice situation, and the "longstanding relationship between the two is not in a good place" amid the Deflategate controversy. Reiss: "For perhaps the first time, I sense Kraft is doubting Goodell's leadership, and if Goodell loses one of his top supporters I wonder how much it could threaten his hold on the job. Then again, maybe it's something that just requires a little time to smooth itself over" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 2/1). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote under the header, "For Robert Kraft And Roger Goodell, Air Still Isn't Clear" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/31).
CASHING IT IN: In Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote the “main reason Goodell will remain the face of this league is constant and indisputable: He makes the owners money. Boatloads of it." Graney: "How do you combat charges of corruption and cover-ups and shattered images, of favoritism toward specific franchises and a moral compass thought long ago abandoned? You make the product as popular as it has ever been” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/31). ABC’s Matthew Dowd said he believes Goodell "should have resigned" earlier this season, and the main problem is there are 31 team owners "who basically don’t seem to care as long as the cash keeps coming in." Dowd: "They don’t seem to want to hold Roger Goodell accountable. They don’t seem to really want to do anything about any of these big issues and until the pocketbook (begins to be affected) -- because they think the ends justify the means in this -- until they’re affected by that, I’m afraid nothing will get done" ("This Week," ABC, 2/1).
TRAIN KEPT A ROLLIN': In Miami, Greg Cote wrote nothing “tops -- or stops -- the colossus that is the NFL.” It is “logical to think the weight of ongoing blemishes and embarrassments would weaken trust in the league, fray at its popularity and darken its future, but there is ample evidence the NFL’s popularity is, if anything, on an upswing.” Even as “all that is wrong outrages us ... we still watch and cheer, as if the lure of it is beyond our control” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 1/31). PBS’ Gwen Ifill does not believe that mentality will change soon, noting there are "millions of people who are still willing to put aside everything else they have heard, everything else we have learned about professional football, and just enjoy the game." They "basically just don’t want to be bothered by it." Ifill: "They may know it, the evidence may be in front of them, but it’s almost sad that many Americans just don’t want to be bothered with this” ("This Week," ABC, 2/1). USA Today’s Christine Brennan said the issue of domestic violence, which has dominated off-field headlines this season, was "almost non-existent” around Super Bowl XLIX. Brennan: “If there’s any doubt the NFL is going to thrive and survive no matter what, there should be no doubt based on what you see on the streets in Phoenix” (“NewsHour,” PBS, 1/30). CBS' James Brown said it is a "shame" that the '14 season has been "dominated from start to finish with topics other than what’s taking place on the football field." Brown: "However, at least I’m encouraged that the league in general, while still questionable on a number of fronts -- they haven’t run away from these issues. They’ve embraced them" ("Face The Nation," CBS, 2/1).
BE CAREFUL OF PITFALLS: In Phoenix, Bob McManaman wrote the NFL “is on a Napoleonic-type mission: To conquer all.” There has been “serious talk about extending the 16-game regular season to an 18-game schedule, which would bring more money to owners.” Next month, the league “will likely approve” a playoff expansion, meaning “even more dollars.” McManaman: “But when is too much too much?” (AZCENTRAL.com, 1/31).
