NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has one of the "most challenging jobs" in sports, and he "understands that he can never please everyone," nor does he try, according to Sam Farmer of the L.A. TIMES. Goodell said, "It’s impossible to make everyone happy. But I don’t think there’s anything you can do in life where you can please everybody -- particularly in the world we’re living in today. But I don’t think that’s the objective. It’s obviously not impossible to manage a successful league like the NFL. We’ve proven that." Farmer notes Goodell "doesn’t shrink from conflict," as he sees the "passion -- and the boos -- as a testament to the strength of the league." Goodell: "People have very high standards and expectations for the NFL, and that’s particularly OK. We want that." Below are excerpts of a Q&A with Goodell, some of which have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: For the first time in more than 20 years, the L.A. area has two teams. Did the NFL build growing pains into the equation? How long do you think it will take the Rams and Chargers to really take root in this challenging market?
Goodell: It’s a challenging market. The size, the fact that it’s the entertainment capital of the world, the fact that we haven’t been there in 20 years. We’re building a world-class stadium that’s going to be part of that experience. That’s not constructed right now. So there’s a transitional phase until we get into that facility and the teams have had a chance to really market themselves and earn the support and respect of their fans.
Q: The vast majority of fans consume the NFL from the couch. With people watching more and more on mobile devices, is TV becoming a thing of the past?
Goodell: I don’t think television is going away. Most experts will tell you that it’s going to continue to be the most dominant platform for years to come, but you have to be on all those other platforms. Because consumers, particularly the younger demographics, are consuming on their phones or tablets or other forms of mobile devices.
Q: What was the impetus for improving game presentation?
Goodell: It’s our constant determination to find perfection, to try to improve what we do on every level. There are times in watching a game where the replay takes far too long because the official is running over talking to the coach, talking to the sideline, looking at the monitor, coming back out, waiting for TV. All of that, we think we can increase the pace of that. Putting the clocks in post-extra point, I think that’s going to dramatically improve the pace of the game.
Q: The NFL has turned the combine, draft, and release of the schedule into big-time TV events. But things slow down between the draft and the start of training camps. Are we going to see a push to make the league more year-round?
Goodell: The next area we’re focusing on is that May, June, July area. That may be what you consider the deadest time in our calendar. One of the things we’re trying to do is, how do we create more events? Not because we want the games of football to be the focus year-round, but the game of football. What’s it like to build a team, train a team, pick a team? All of those elements are things that we’ll keep doing to make it a year-round, compelling experience for our fans (L.A. TIMES, 9/7).
GETTING PERSONAL: Goodell this morning appeared on FS1's "First Things First" and addressed the league's personal conduct policy and the Ezekiel Elliott case. He said, “Everything we do collectively reflects on everybody else, so if a negative incident occurs on one team about a player, it affects every other player or coach or executive. So collectively, we all represent the shield, the NFL. For me there is no question that it’s worth it because that’s what is expected of being a professional on the National Football League, and that’s what our fans expect us to do.” He said the league is frustrated by the "process" in the Elliott case. Goodell: "We have been very careful and deliberate in that process. There was a process which we agreed in our collective bargaining agreement. We follow that to a tee. And still there is litigation from the NFLPA. We understand that and we believe the law is clear on this. And we believe that the process that we followed is completely consistent with the CBA and that will be demonstrated. And that's why we believe our system should stay as we collectively bargain and not in the courts. But they have a right and that's been done in the past” (“First Things First,” FS1, 9/7).
