Thursday's Deflategate ruling in favor of Tom Brady was another example of instances in which U.S. courts "have exposed" NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and in case after case, people "learn repeatedly that NFL justice simply isn't in line with the standards of American workplace justice," according to Jim Trotter of ESPN.com. U.S. District Judge Richard Berman with his ruling "basically kicked sand" in Goodell's face. Since taking office in '06, Goodell "has painted himself as the no-nonsense tough guy who rules with an iron fist" (ESPN.com, 9/3). In N.Y., Michael Powell writes for "seemingly the 149th time in the past half-decade, a federal judge has ruled that this management culture of disdain is at odds with legal rules of fair play." Berman "yanked back the curtain on the NFL" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/4). In Boston, Christopher Gasper writes it is the "overinflated ego and sense of self-importance of the self-styled Guardian of the Game, one Mr. Goodell, that are damaging the integrity of the game and his legacy as commissioner." Goodell "must decide whether it’s more important to prove his decisions right or to do what is right for the NFL" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/4). Also in Boston, Ron Borges writes Goodell "should have swallowed hard, taken his medicine and stood down," but instead "revealed once again the arrogance of power." Goodell "asked for a smack in the face and got it" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/4).
OVERSTEPPING HIS BOUNDS? In DC, Sally Jenkins writes under the header, "DeflateGate Exposed Roger Goodell As Unfit To Serve His Office." Goodell "pushed a bad case purely out of hubris and overconfidence," and NFL owners "need a more worldly and less entitled man to run the league" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/4). In N.Y., Mike Vaccaro writes it is "impossible to overstate how big a loss" Goodell suffered here (N.Y. POST, 9/4). In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason writes Goodell "loses credibility with each day he remains in office." Gleason: "Every time he loses, he empowers players he’s attempting to discipline. If he’s allowed to keep swinging a heavy hammer, players are certain to challenge him. He looks vulnerable. He should expect more players appealing suspensions and fines. If anyone deserves to be banished, it’s him" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/4). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes under the header, "Deflategate Ruling Should Cost Roger Goodell His Job" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/4).
A BAD LOOK: FORBES' Patrick Rishe wrote even if the NFL "appeals Berman’s ruling, the further damage to an already-battered public perception of Commissioner Goodell’s ability to lead and command respect within and outside of the sport is cataclysmic" (FORBES.com, 9/3). In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover writes under the header, "Brady Ruling Another Embarrassment For Goodell" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/4). In Seattle, Matt Calkins writes Goodell’s "myopic, arrogant attempt to look strong has rendered him weaker than ever." He "has turned himself into what may be the biggest joke in American sports" (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/4).
STILL WINNING: ESPN N.Y.'s Ian O'Connor wrote it is "pointless to call for Goodell to resign because: A) He's never voluntarily surrendering this gig and the obscene wages that come with it; and B) Too many owners are thrilled he went after Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick's Kremlin-like dynasty." But after Goodell "blew this winnable Brady case -- and yes, it was winnable -- how can anyone take him seriously as a competent overlord of NFL justice?" (ESPNNY.com, 9/3). In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom writes Goodell’s job "is to make money for his bosses." Rosenbloom: "He’s doing that. ... And guess what, despite this ruling, Goodell will oversee the NFL’s getting billions and billions more. Nobody watched less NFL football because" of Ray Rice's, Ray McDonald's and Greg Hardy's respective incidents. Sponsors "did not race the other way with their cash" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/4). USA TODAY's Nancy Armour in a front-page piece writes under the header, "Despite Another Embarrassment, Roger Goodell Isn't Going Anywhere." Goodell "has more job security than someone inheriting the family business" despite the notion that he "has botched every significant discipline decision he’s made." People in the "real world have gotten fired for far less" but "unless Goodell announces he was the league consultant on Concussion or schedules the next owners meeting at a Red Roof Inn, he’s not going anywhere" (USA TODAY, 9/4).
SMALL CIRCLE: In DC, Kent Babb profiles Goodell as a commissioner who "runs NFL ownership like a politician works an unwieldy caucus: There are those he can count on and others who will cause headaches." An anonymous NFL exec said that Goodell "is an expert at managing up, and he has learned that the key to succeeding -- and, more recently, surviving -- in a sprawling and complicated business is by identifying and leaning on the 'four or five owners that Roger uses to run the league.'" The exec added, "Everyone else is irrelevant or unheard." Goodell "has spent every day of his career working for the NFL and is a true creature of its culture." He has "been at it long enough to know that certain owners" -- like Kraft, Jerry Jones, John Mara, Jerry Richardson and Art and Dan Rooney -- "can be powerful allies." They "are active in league politics, men of interest and influence in a vast corporation expected this year to reach about $12 billion in revenue, the kinds of figures capable of guiding an ambitious NFL intern through three decades and eventually make him commissioner" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/4).
