Continuity, But Not Complacency, Stressed For Roger Goodell
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Irsay Feels Goodell’s Selection
Brings Continuity To The NFL
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The election of Roger Goodell to replace Paul Tagliabue as NFL Commissioner “is
an indication that owners did not want to tinker substantially with the league,”
according to Judy Battista of the N.Y. TIMES. Under Tagliabue, the league is “operating
near its peak, a $6[B]-a-year business with a new labor deal, lucrative television
contracts and dozens of new stadiums” (N.Y.
TIMES, 8/9). Giants President & CEO John Mara: “The continuity
was very important to me” (PHILADELPHIA
DAILY NEWS, 8/9). Packers Chair & CEO Bob Harlan added, “I
felt we needed someone from the inside. Roger is not going to get shocked by the
next labor situation or the next TV situation” (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/9). Colts Owner Jim Irsay: “I believe in continuity.
That’s what Roger brings us” (WASHINGTON
TIMES, 8/9). Chargers President Dean Spanos said, “There was a
consensus among the owners that they wanted the position to stay internal. ...
We supported it” (SAN
DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/9). Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt: “Most all of
his professional life has been spent there, and that was a major advantage that
Roger had” (K.C.
STAR, 8/9).
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McCaskey Says NFL Entering
New Era With Election Of Goodell
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COMPLACENCY IS THE ENEMY: While many owners stressed continuity
with the election of Goodell, Goodell said status quo “wasn’t my theme.
My theme is that it really wasn’t time for status quo. We need to keep innovating,
keep changing and find new ways of doing things and try to do things better”
(N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 8/9). More Goodell: “The league has always tried to
find a better way of doing things and be responsive before we need to. That has
been a hallmark of our leadership” (N.Y.
TIMES, 8/9). Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones said the election of Goodell is
“certainly an endorsement of Paul and a recognition of his tenure.”
But Jones added, “To say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it,’ is too simplistic. I personally felt one of the plusses of Roger is
that he understands that our biggest opponent in the NFL may be complacency. He
was a conscious decision by the ownership not to accept complacency” (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 8/9). Bears Chair Michael McCaskey: “It’s a
new era. We’re now into the Roger Goodell era, and no organization is perfect.
This is a chance to improve” (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 8/9).
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Bowlen Says There Is A Lot Of Work
Left On NFL’s Labor Agreement
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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: In Baltimore, Mike Preston writes Goodell
“played a lead role” in the launch of NFL Network and was a “key
member of the negotiating teams” for the NFL’s TV agreements and CBA.
Patriots Owner Robert Kraft: “Everything he has touched has been a tremendous
success. He is continuing something that is very strong” (Baltimore
SUN, 8/9). Steelers Owner and search committee co-Chair Dan Rooney noted
Goodell has “done everything during his term with the league in all the
departments. He knows labor. He knows television. He knows the business end of
it and he really knows the fans.” Raiders Owner Al Davis added, “Twenty-five
years of experience. You can’t beat that” (USA
TODAY, 8/9). Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen: “On all the major decisions,
whatever they were, Roger has been on the leading edge” (WASHINGTON
POST, 8/9). Redskins Owner Dan Snyder: “The NFL is a complex business.
Finding the right person to keep it on course was critical, and we did it. Roger
is the right choice” (WASHINGTON
TIMES, 8/9). 49ers co-Owner John York: “He is a strong communicator
who quickly grasps the perspective of the owners and is able to come up with solutions
that can be endorsed by the majority” (49ers). Raiders CEO Amy
Trask: “He has tremendous passion for the game of football and significant
experience in matters of importance to the league” (S.F.
CHRONICLE, 8/9).
GOODELL’S CHALLENGES: USA TODAY’s Jim Corbett writes Goodell’s
“biggest challenge” is to “keep the labor peace and the good
times rolling for a thriving, nearly $6[B]-a-year business.” Bowlen: “There’s
a lot of work to do with our labor agreement” (USA
TODAY, 8/9). SI’s Peter King wrote Goodell will have a “very
short honeymoon.” One team GM said, “His toughest three years will
be the first three. We’ve got significant disagreements inside the league
with how we share revenue and how big a gap there is between the top- and bottom-earning
teams” (SI.com,
8/8). But Jones believes that Goodell “is the perfect hire to patch
any such divide among owners.” Jones: “It’s a credit to him
that both the high-revenue clubs were worried about him and the low-revenue clubs
were worried about him. ... He’s proven his fairness and his integrity”
(DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 8/9). Goodell said, “The ownership has got a lot
more in common than you think. They certainly have differences of opinion on certain
things, but they always do what is best for the league. Those issues that we need
to get addressed will be addressed promptly” (CHICAGO
SUN-TIMES, 8/9). The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Gary Myers lists five “important
issues facing” Goodell (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 8/9).
L.A.: In L.A., Alan Abrahamson notes Goodell “has for years
played a leading role” in the effort to return to the L.A. market (L.A.
TIMES, 8/9). Former 49ers and Browns President Carmen Policy: “He
understands the [L.A.] dilemma perhaps even better than Paul Tagliabue. As much
as Paul was intellectually and strategically in favor of developing the L.A. market,
Roger was there on a hands-on, day-to-day basis. In my opinion, he’ll have
that very high on his list of priorities.” L.A. Coliseum exec Charlie Isgar:
“He’s not going to get sold a bunch of L.A. hype. You’re going
to have to show him.” But AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke feels that
Goodell “does not necessarily open the door for an NFL franchise to return.”
Leiweke: “Roger will follow the general direction and the decision of the
ownership group on this one. I don’t think Roger will dictate. While this
means good news for [L.A.], it still means there are a group of owners on the
Southern California committee, and we have a long way to go with them” (L.A.
TIMES, 8/9).
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Ebersol Praises Goodell’s
Rise Through NFL Ranks
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OTHER MARKET ISSUES: Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf called Goodell’s
hiring “great news” for the team’s stadium efforts. Wilf: “If
someone else were to have come in, it could have been a setback for our stadium
efforts. He has a complete understanding of the issues, better than anyone. He’s
a strong proponent of the G-3 program. This gives us a seamless transition and
moves our plans forward” (STAR
TRIBUNE, 8/9). Meanwhile, Mara added, “Roger believes the same
way that Paul did that we need to do what we can to help the Saints in [New Orleans]”
(USA
TODAY, 8/9).
REAX FROM TV PARTNERS: ESPN/ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer
said in a statement, “Roger has been a leader and key decision-maker and
shown great passion for the game. We look forward to working with him” (ESPN).
NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol: “Roger should take
great pride in the fact that he has worked his way up through the league from
intern to commissioner” (NBC Universal). CBS News & Sports
President Sean McManus: “Roger has been a friend of mine for many years,
and a great partner for the past eight years. He's been very fair dealing with
all the networks, which isn't always the easiest thing since we all have our different
agendas and different priorities. It's been a good relationship” (BLOOMBERG
NEWS, 8/8). ESPN Senior VP/Programming John Wildhack added, “The NFL
is not as successful as it is now without Roger Goodell” (WASHINGTON
POST, 8/9).
AIELLO: In Boston, Ron Borges cites sources saying that “one
likely change under Goodell” is that NFL Exec VP/Communications & Public
Affairs Joe Browne “will retire and be replaced” by NFL VP/PR Greg
Aiello (BOSTON
GLOBE, 8/9). SI.com’s Don Banks cites sources as saying that under
Goodell, “the role of right hand man to the commissioner should eventually
pass to” Aiello, as the two are “close in age and have a strong working
relationship. Look for Aiello’s star to rise” (SI.com,
8/8).
See more images from the NFL
owner's meetings in Chicago.
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