Roger Goodell

[Angry Pope]

Goodell: NFL is protecting itself against an NBA-like gambling scandal

Tom Kowalski

Thursday August 16, 2007

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell visited the Lions facility this morning and covered several subjects in a 30-minute interview with the local media.

On the league's concern about a NBA-type gambling scandal hitting the NFL: We have always felt that gambling has a tremendous impact on the integrity of the sport and we spend an awful lot of time making sure, not only with our officials and our coaches and our players and anybody in our office, that we do everything to protect the integrity of the league. We have significant systems with the respect of background checks are constantly being done and reviews of performances with officials that are second to none. We always re-evaluate what we can do and what we can do better. We've sat down with people from the NBA and other sports to make sure we're doing everything possible. I'm confident that we are leading the way with respect to our systems and I'm confident our officials are doing the best possible job out there without influence.''


On whether the league plans on changing the Lions' traditional Thanksgiving Day game: "We have no plans to change that. I expect to be here on Thanksgiving Day myself.''

On the high guaranteed bonus money that incoming draft choices receive and whether that system needs to be changed: "It's a concern. I think it's a concern also for other reasons that are less obvious that came out when we talked to the players this year. It's difficult when a rookie comes in to a locker room and has that kind of a signing bonus. It's difficult of the veterans to provide that kind of leadership that's so important on teams. Money changes that dynamic a little bit. We'll talk to Gene (Upshaw, president of the players association). We're not trying to save the dollars, we just think the dollars should go to players who have earned that on the field through their accomplishments and leadership. It's a system we have and we'll do the best we can with it right now.''


On whether the four-game preseason schedule is too long: "We've debated that. It used to be six (preseason games). It's been debated and it's something we continue to evaluate on a regular basis. There are different viewpoints on that. Some coaches will tell you it's just right and some would say it's too much and some would say we want to go back to six. It's important, I think, getting players and the team ready to play for that season so I think they serve an important purpose.''


On whether the league should stop the practice of teams charging full price for preseason games because it's a minor league product: "I disagree that it's a minor league product. I find the preseason exciting. No. 1, because it's in anticipation of the season coming and, No. 2, it's seeing these players who are fighting to make a football team. That's part of developing your team, that's part of creating a team that's going to compete during the regular season and hopefully the postseason. But I understand the issue and I understand the issue from a fan's perspective. There's a concern about pricing in any case. We obviously want to be careful not to overprice our fans and make sure we're responsive to our fans.''


On the fact that some cable television operators are charging more for subscribers to receive the league's all-football NFL Network channel: "We're working on it because it's obviously a business negotiation and there are two sides to that story. We are trying to get the broadest possible audience and we want it in every home in America and we're being told by some cable operators - and one which took us from seven million homes down to one million homes and they're charging the consumers more money than they were last year. We don't get that money, that's going to the cable operators. My concern there is that it's not good for consumer and we want the consumers to get the product they want so we would love to have this in every home. So we're trying to struggle and negotiate with those cable operators.''


Finally, Goodell got a little irritated with one media member who questioned why the commissioner was being so harsh in suspending players based on his "new'' personal conduct policy: "What wasn't a policy before? I beg to differ with you. That's one of the main responsibilities of the commissioner of the National Football League. You've never seen a player suspended? OK, we can give you the facts on that. The answer to your basic question is that I do what's in the best interest of the National Football League and that represents 2,000 players, that represents coaches, owners and fans. I do what I think is in the best interest of them and we do that with a great deal of thought, a great deal of consideration. I've met with well over 150 players now and I think players are supportive of what we're doing and we're being responsible. We're being responsible to our fans and the game of football.''

 

[poptart]

I'm confident that we are leading the way with respect to our systems and I'm confident our officials are doing the best possible job out there without influence.''

Go fuck yourself, kunt.

 

[jatfly]

I LIKE THIS...................


POSTED 4:27 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 5:04 p.m. EDT, August 16, 2007

COMMISH PLANS TO ADDRESS FIRST-ROUND WINDFALLS

As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell approaches his one-year anniversary, it occurs to us that we have agreed with virtually every decision that Goodell has made.

And we think we're going to agree with most of his decisions in year two. Especially if one of them is to try to address the ongoing problem regarding the payment of enormous windfalls to rookies who have never worn an NFL helmet except when trick-or-treating.

This year, for example, safety LaRon Landry received more guaranteed money than any safety in the history of the league, simply because his name was the sixth one called on draft day.

"It's a concern," Goodell said in a Thursday interview with the Detroit media. "I think it's a concern also for other reasons that are less obvious that came out when we talked to the players this year. It's difficult when a rookie comes in to a locker room and has that kind of a signing bonus. It's difficult [for] the veterans to provide that kind of leadership that's so important on teams. Money changes that dynamic a little bit. We'll talk to Gene [Upshaw]. We're not trying to save the dollars, we just think the dollars should go to players who have earned that on the field through their accomplishments and leadership. It's a system we have and we'll do the best we can with it right now.''

The only problem, as we see it, is that the union needs to want change, too, or else the union will expect some type of a concession from the league.

But both sides should want it. For the league, it will lessen the financial risk that arises from having (and using) a high draft pick. As JaMarcus Russell tries to break the bank in Oakland, for example, is the worst team in the league from a year ago really getting any better?

For the players, it provides more money in the future to current members of the union, at a cost only to guys who aren't in the union yet. Like a guy who suddenly favors a military draft the day after he becomes too old to be drafted, players already in the league have no reason to object to limitations on the money to be paid to guys who aren't there yet. The fact that the extra money would flow through to the current players gives such an approach even more appeal.

The reality is that the agents who pull the strings of the union don't want to give up their percentage of the lottery prizes that are paid out each and every year. And until the players stand up and demand that something be done, the NFLPA will continue to ignore the problem.

 

[Ark Raider]

I agree with this 100%. Unfortunately it's not gonna help us this year.

 

[Ghost Poster]

I'm with Goodell on the first round draft choices being overpaid.I fully expected to see JR playing this season and now the speculation among some of us is that he could re-enter the draft next year. Very disappointing that JR missed all of camp and still hasn't signed. Oh well I'm with Walter,Pepper and McCown now, hopefully one of these guys can raise his game.

I'm against Goodell saying the NFL officials are fair and a model and without influence that's fucking bullshit. *cough*snow job*cough* And some countless other bad calls during the years we have all seen go against the Raiders. I still remember Ed McCaffery and his Glade Divac style of football. How many phantom pass interference calls did that faker get?

 

[Ark Raider]

If he's unsignable, maybe we could trade him to somebody for something. I can't see us letting him hit the draft again next year for nothing. Maybe the threat of some sort of cap on rookie signing bonus money will encourage he and his agent to get something done this year.

 

[Angry Pope]

The only problem is that the teams have used the rookie pool allotment to sign the players they drafted. Unless Goodell comes in and makes some kind of exception.

 

[Angry Pope]

Same subject...

It's time to cap the rookies

Adam Schein


The NFL needs to take a page from the NBA.

Seriously.

There is only one example you can point to in making a statement like that. The NBA's system of slotting salaries for draft picks is brilliant. In fact, it is the only way to treat rookies. It is an absolute must for the NFL to follow suit.

Now I have argued this point for years for a plethora of reasons. But now, there is a sense of urgency to get this done after watching events this summer.

Slotted salaries for first rounders is a must after watching Brady Quinn's holdout for no apparent reason, after watching Darrelle Revis and the Jets come to a deal that could've been reached weeks ago, and after listening to the Raiders brass talk about how the club is worlds apart with top overall pick JaMarcus Russell on Thursday.


It's Week 2 of the preseason and Quinn cannot truly compete with pedestrian gunslingers Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson. Revis, a brilliant pick by the Jets, is now way off schedule to start against the rival Patriots on Opening Day after missing 2 weeks of practice. And Russell is an afterthought. Levi Brown missed some valuable time in Arizona. Jon Beason was absent for key practices in Carolina.

That's counterproductive to the players, teams and fans.

There are no holdouts in the NBA. Rookies get guaranteed money based upon where they are picked, regardless of the position they play, a concept that was lost on Quinn and his agents.

And these rookie salaries and contracts in the NBA don't break the bank.

When NFL neophytes finally sign, they get millions upon millions of dollars in guaranteed money. For what exactly?

Look, I love the NFL Draft. It's a national holiday. But let's face it; a portion of these players in the first round will be total busts while laughing all the way to the bank. I'd much rather see the guaranteed cash go to veterans who have proved something in the NFL.

Revis, while I admire his talent and think he can be a star, should not be making Nathan Vasher money.

Calvin Johnson should not be paid like Chad Johnson.

Ed Reed shouldn't strive to make LaRon Landry money.

The new players need to actually prove it on the NFL gridiron before getting paid.

The system is ridiculously flawed and backward.


As one veteran defensive player told me during our training camp tour, "You can tell right away which rookie first rounders are here to play and work and which rookies are sitting on their fat contracts. The system actually hurts these rookies because it equals laziness or complacency for some of them.

They've never seen this money before. And meanwhile, the five-year veteran who is the third defensive tackle but incredibly important to the team, is forced to take a pay cut. It's a joke. And everyone knows it. That's the guy who deserves the money."

If you ever want to get Colts general manager Bill Polian going, ask him about this topic. Polian's face will turn red and he will dive right into a classic, incredibly intelligent, and passionate monologue on the subject. He just cannot fathom why you have rookies making all of this guaranteed money.

And he really cannot understand why the union would ever object.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who has brilliantly negotiated contracts for years, is in line behind Polian.

Tannenbaum said, "I agree 1,000 percent. It should be a meritorious system. I don't understand why it would be pushed back from the union because we are talking about a total sense of dollars. We are not putting more dollars to one side of the table. We are talking about shifting dollars from rookies to veterans. I agree with Bill on that point."

And here's a key part of the point; the established players, the general managers, and now the commissioner all agree. It was Roger Goodell who addressed this issue on Thursday in Detroit speaking to the media in Motown. A change absolutely has to be made.

Frankly, these holdouts are getting to be somewhere between embarrassing and foolish.

We have learned that when Goodell speaks, people listen. And Gene Upshaw needs to realize that this shift only aids his constituents.

Tannenbaum hopes for change.

"We will see what happens. I know there are other issues from the collectively bargained relationship," Tannenbaum said. "I think that is a win-win for players and management. Simply put, the players that deserve it should get it."

Imagine that concept.