Redskins CB Josh Norman criticized both NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith as part of a cover story written by Kevin Van Valkenburg for the latest issue of ESPN THE MAGAZINE. Norman said of Goodell, "I get that he makes the owners money, but literally anyone could do that. A dog could. He's a dog in a suit." He added of the commissioner, "Horrible, he's straight horrible." Meanwhile, Norman also took a shot at the head of the union, saying the NFL "is a dictatorship, and DeMaurice is in cahoots with those guys" (ESPN THE MAGAZINE, 9/5 issue). ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez said Norman's comments about the league and union working together is "probably going to throw the players association for a little bit of a loop” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 8/23). ESPN’s Mike Golic said, “The part that got me as players are trying to be strong in the battle with the NFL, to be throwing the head of the union in DeMaurice Smith under the bus. ... We’re trying to do something here that’s going to be five years in the making with the next CBA, don't make us look like we are not together” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 8/24).
ROGER THAT: ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley said of Norman's comments on Goodell, “Will we stop with this ‘Commissioner Goodell is horrible’ talk? … Here's the problem: if he's so horrible, why has he just signed a $27 billion TV deal that allows the NFL to be king of all sports in America?" Wiley said if Goodell is "horrible, he wouldn't allow you to have a premise where you can make that economic return." Wiley: “The only thing you can point at him is his disciplinary record. Outside of that, give me something negative about Goodell" (“SportsNation,” ESPN2, 8/23). ESPN’s J.A. Adande said what amazes him is "how so many players continue to take verbal shots" at Goodell. Adande: "This is not the first time it’s happened. They are more than willing to let their distaste for the commissioner be known and you wonder at what point will Goodell respond to this. ... It seems like he cares about players on draft night when he daps them up and gives them big hugs, but then the players throughout his league have this low opinion of him. What is he going to do to address that?” (“Around the Horn,” ESPN2, 8/23).
GRABBING HEADLINES: Norman repeatedly said yesterday that his ESPN interview "happened 'five months ago' (it was in May)." In DC, Dan Steinberg noted Norman has "already talked about using media to expand his career options, and he’s savvy enough to know that calling his league’s commissioner 'a dog in a suit' might create headlines." Same thing with "signing a contract with that many zeroes, in a place where past free agent prizes have been spectacular busts." Norman: "When you get a deal like that, everything comes with it, everything’s magnified by 10. You’ve just got to be (careful) of that." Norman prior to joining the Redskins was already a "media magnet whose every quote created a headline." Norman said of the attention he has received since joining the Redskins, "It’s crazy, it’s crazy. I never would have dreamed that in a million years" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/23). Meanwhile, ESPN’s Bomani Jones said Norman "didn't say anything that should worry" the Redskins. Norman actually "sounded like the company man, when he referred to himself as that R-word, because he got Native American in his family and said that he was okay with the name of the team. That's probably the best thing Dan Snyder’s heard anywhere else” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 8/23).
