Is Roger Goodell Good For the NFL?

I really really don’t like goodell and I think hes bad for the NFL. The dude just doesn’t get it.

Same as Suh: Jags’ Mike Lockley fined $20,000 | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/17/same-as-suh-jags-mike-lockley-fined-20000/)

i completely agree with you, this fine is a complete joke, and i hope he ends up getting it reduced if he ends up making the team and having to pay it. who ever wrote the article had a great point that makes all the sense in the world, fine them a percentage of their salary so it effects each player in a similiar manner. goodell is an idiot just like stern, they can't establish any kind of consistency in how they hand down fines and punishments.

Goodell has done an okay job that's been punctuated by a lot of really bad decisions -- I remember reading an article about how players really hate goodell and someone remarked that even though Tagliabue wasn't exactly buddy buddy with the players, most people in the league respected him. Not so with Goodell

This is a new direction to the threads in here, but whether or not Goodell is good for the NFL is almost a moot issue, as the NFL, as well as most other pro sports leagues(FIFA, and foreign sports included) are becoming more akin to WWE entertainment than anything. Sorry, just too much money passing hands in Vegas, Atlantic City, and elsewhere for there not to be big corruption in pro sports, with the NFL being top dog. This issue has been pre Goodell in all fairness, but this guy is a joke. Fining guys for hits that were OK 10, 15, 20 years ago. No TD celebrations, phantom calls with flags flying like crazy, momentum killing holding calls, etc, is rather lame. I can appreciate what he is trying to do with expanding the NFL to Europe, but that is a pipedream at best. Nationalism is creeping back into the fore in Europe, especially E Europe. I don't think they would want their local teams to be filled up with yanks, while their FIFA squad is of their own kind. Also, Europe is really hurting economically, I don't think you are going to get most Europeans to fork over that kind of $$$$$$$$ to see American football. Shoot FIFA games can't get sold out crowds most of the time, as they have to put their money to the necessities like food, clothing, rent. In short, Goodell can't escape the ever deteriorating world economy. In my opinion Goodell is just tightening the corporate grip on the NFL and I think if it continues people will lose interest, say a good 15-20 years down the road.

Also, this HGH stuff is also a joke ,do you really think these guys get so freakishly big by just eating and lifting weights, without any "outside" help?

That's partly my fault...and that's all I'm going say about that

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRBPLrsHqA37FEBwKEEK6TAlDLJb8EJ_ V20N3wGNRINqig37-mk

That's a BAD SmootSmack!

Goodell has done an okay job that's been punctuated by a lot of really bad decisions -- I remember reading an article about how players really hate goodell and someone remarked that even though Tagliabue wasn't exactly buddy buddy with the players, most people in the league respected him. Not so with Goodell

A lot of really bad decisions? Really?

The players that you asert "really hate him" just signed on to a 10-year agreement leaving him - - or whomever is his successor - - in charge of the league and their punsihments.

The revenues have grown under Goodell from about $8B when he took over to approximately $9.2B (estimated for 2011). That is a 15% increase over a period of time when the economy has not been in great shape.

Whether or not the players "respect" Goodell is irrelevant. If I worked for WalMart and did not respect Sam Walton's descendants, it would not matter even a little bit.

Under his watch, revenues are up and there is a decade of labor peace. Explain to me how either of those things might be "bad for the league".

Then enumerate all of his really bad decisions and tell me how important they are for the NFL when compared to increased revenues and labor peace.

This is a new direction to the threads in here, but whether or not Goodell is good for the NFL is almost a moot issue, as the NFL, as well as most other pro sports leagues(FIFA, and foreign sports included) are becoming more akin to WWE entertainment than anything. Sorry, just too much money passing hands in Vegas, Atlantic City, and elsewhere for there not to be big corruption in pro sports, with the NFL being top dog. This issue has been pre Goodell in all fairness, but this guy is a joke. Fining guys for hits that were OK 10, 15, 20 years ago. No TD celebrations, phantom calls with flags flying like crazy, momentum killing holding calls, etc, is rather lame. I can appreciate what he is trying to do with expanding the NFL to Europe, but that is a pipedream at best. Nationalism is creeping back into the fore in Europe, especially E Europe. I don't think they would want their local teams to be filled up with yanks, while their FIFA squad is of their own kind. Also, Europe is really hurting economically, I don't think you are going to get most Europeans to fork over that kind of $$$$$$$$ to see American football. Shoot FIFA games can't get sold out crowds most of the time, as they have to put their money to the necessities like food, clothing, rent. In short, Goodell can't escape the ever deteriorating world economy. In my opinion Goodell is just tightening the corporate grip on the NFL and I think if it continues people will lose interest, say a good 15-20 years down the road.


1. At one time, there was no penalty for facemasking. They change the rule. So now calls are made - - and sometimes fines levied - - for things that were OK in the past. That is called "evolving the game"...

2. If you think that fan disagreement with calls by referees is new to the Goodell era of the NFL, you are seriously mistaken.

3. "Back in the day" there were no TD celebrations. If you are going to lambaste the leage for calling things now that were not called 20 years ago, then applaud the league for going back to its roots with no TD celebrations. Or at least try to be consistent in your criticisms...

4. The NFL as a novelty in Europe has worked VERY well. The "London game" sells about 80,000 tix every year. This year it will be a home game for the Cardinals who do not sell 80,000 tix to their home games in Arizona very often. History says that "American football" is not going to be a big seller in Europe if it is there on a permanent basis. The WLAF - - under various guises - - showed that.

5. In order for the NFL to "lose grip" in 15 - 20 years, one of two conditions has to obtain:

A. Something replaces the NFL as the top dog sports attraction in the US

B. Americans find something else to do with their leisure time than follow sports.

That leads me to ask: Which of those two things will it be?

If you pick A, tell me what will replace the NFL as the American national sports obsession

If you pick B, tell me what sorts of things Americans are going to choose to do as they begin to focus on something other than sports.

Kickoff rule not going away during 2011 season | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/22/kickoff-rule-not-going-away-during-2011-season/)

A lot of really bad decisions? Really?

The players that you asert "really hate him" just signed on to a 10-year agreement leaving him - - or whomever is his successor - - in charge of the league and their punsihments.

The revenues have grown under Goodell from about $8B when he took over to approximately $9.2B (estimated for 2011). That is a 15% increase over a period of time when the economy has not been in great shape.

Whether or not the players "respect" Goodell is irrelevant. If I worked for WalMart and did not respect Sam Walton's descendants, it would not matter even a little bit.

Under his watch, revenues are up and there is a decade of labor peace. Explain to me how either of those things might be "bad for the league".

Then enumerate all of his really bad decisions and tell me how important they are for the NFL when compared to increased revenues and labor peace.

Fans don't care how much money the league makes. We care about the actual games. Under his watch too many games are being decided by calls. Too many game changing flags are being thrown. Guys are being fined ridiculous amounts of money. In that area he's done a terrible job. Goodell seems obsessed with fining guys and making a collision sport too safe of a sport.

Kickoff rule not going away during 2011 season | ProFootballTalk (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/22/kickoff-rule-not-going-away-during-2011-season/)

It has to go next year. One of the worst rule changes I've ever seen.