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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Goodell's Annual Address Hits On Rooney Rule, Activism, International

Goodell said he has not talked with President Trump about his criticism of players who kneelGETTY IMAGES

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday delivered his annual State of the League address in Minneapolis, where he touched on a variety of topics facing the league. He said in terms of minority hirings, the Rooney Rule "works in the sense of making sure that every club is required to not only interview but also consider seriously candidates with diverse backgrounds. ... That’s served us well, but there's still a lot more work to do outside of the Rooney Rule." When asked whether the Raiders complied with the Rooney Rule when they hired coach Jon Gruden, Goodell said, “There was a full investigation of that by our staff. They went through it in great detail, spoke to every one of the participants to make sure that we checked the facts. ... It was actually in compliance with the Rooney Rule."

KEEPING DIALOGUE OPEN: Goodell also talked about the persistent issue of players protesting during the national anthem: “Our focus is going to continue building the platforms that the owners and players spent a great deal of time with unprecedented dialogue creating. ... We're excited by that. You all know that we created a committee of owners and players. ... So that's where I think our focus will be.” Goodell said he has not talked with President Trump about his criticism of players who kneel. When asked if the league would have players stay in the locker room during the anthem, Goodell said, “I don't know ... what we'll consider in the off season. I'm trying to get through the Super Bowl.”

Other notes from Goodell's address:

  • On game presentation: “We did have more replay interruptions this year, and I think that’s something we’ve got to look and, we can improve on.”
  • On “Thursday Night Football” and player safety, Goodell said he and NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith “have already had some conversations about what it is we could do to address the players for either the time period leading up to the game or the time period following the game. ... Most players don’t like a short week, but they sure do love the 10 days that come after that."
  • On the XFL returning in '20: "We've had several proposals that come direct to us about various forms of spring football that we have considered over the years. We continued to look at that."
  • On teams participating in international games: “It's part of what we all agreed. ... We want to continue to share our game with our fans on a global basis. Clubs have been very anxious to do that. I think in the U.K. at the end of this season we'll have 30 of the 32 teams that have played in the U.K. I think that's terrific for our game. I think it’s terrific for our clubs and I think it’s great for the fans. So yes, that comes with sacrificing, from time to time, home games.”
  • On the NFL in China: “We now have the ability -- and our relationship with Tencent is a great example of that -- where we can get direct to consumers and deliver our content, our games through various technology, through media platforms that fans didn't have the opportunity to get before. That's a great advantage for us” (ESPN, 1/31).

ROONEY RULE QUESTIONS CONTINUE: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote under the header, "Roger Goodell Exposes the NFL's Rooney Rule As A Farce." When asked about whether the Raiders complied with the Rooney Rule in hiring coach Jon Gruden, Goodell once again "got his bucket out and started bailing water for the Raiders, saying a tacit agreement between Gruden and the Raiders ultimately wasn’t the case." What is "more troubling in this case is the lack of transparency -- even in simple explanation." Robinson: "Does the Rooney Rule get minority candidates in front of owners? Yes. Does it potentially create a space for learning and growing and educating within a process? Sure. But can the NFL say it makes owners 'consider seriously candidates with diverse backgrounds?' No. It can’t." The NFL "wants to have it all with the Rooney Rule." It wants to be able to "say that it’s getting diverse candidates job interviews." It wants to "say that all of those candidates are being taken seriously." But the "spirit of getting ironclad opportunities for minority head coaches and executives is a hopeful reach at times" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/31).

DUE DILIGENCE: Goodell yesterday said the Broncos' trustees in charge of finding Pat Bowlen's successor are "in compliance with our rules" and have been "very thoughtful" throughout the process. Goodell said, "They have done a terrific job of leading that franchise over the last several years." Broncos President & CEO Joe Ellis is one of three trustees, along with Exec VP & General Counsel Rich Slivka and Denver attorney Mary Kelly, who are "tasked with appointing the Broncos' next controlling owner." Bowlen's wish -- due to health issues -- is to "transfer ownership to his seven children, with one being named controlling owner." It is "up to the trustees to select which child if any ... will land that role" (DENVER POST, 2/1).

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE: Goodell spoke of a desire for less and shorter replay and NBCSN's Chris Simms said, "It's not good for the game, this stoppage of play. The year 2018, it's millennial time, okay?" PFT's Mike Florio said, "They don't want to have lags. They don't want to give people a reason to pick up their phones and get lost down an Instagram rabbit hole" ("PFT," NBCSN, 2/1).

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