Commissioner Roger Goodell talks during a press conference at the Hilton Hotel on September 19, 2014 in New York City. (Elsa, Getty Images)
Spotlight on… Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
When: I was going to say Goodell is under the spotlight from now until his appointed “independent” investigator Robert Mueller finished his investigation on the NFL’s knowledge of the Ray Rice knockout punch video from inside an elevator at an Atlantic City casino. But the investigation is badly tainted. Mueller is in cahoots with Baltimore Ravens president Dick Cass, whom ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” exposed for at least misdirecting or, at worst, trying to cover up the video of Rice’s left punch to his then-fiancée. Cass and Mueller once shared the same law firm. Owners John Mara and Art Rooney II were picked to oversee Mueller’s investigation. Mara and Rooney are close confidants of Goodell. And Ravens’ owner Steve Bisciotti is one of the 32 people who are beholden to Goodell. Together, Cass and Goodell “settled” on a two-game suspension as punishment for Rice’s abhorrent act.
What’s up: Goodell held a news conference in New York on Friday ostensibly to announce a tougher personal-conduct policy and to admit once again his mistake in handling the Rice domestic-violence matter. In truth, the news conference was an attempt to save his job. He failed miserably.
Background: For five or six years, I thought Goodell had a chance to go down as the best commissioner in NFL history. Goodell was unfair in the way he handled Tank Johnson, Adam “Pacman” Jones and Chris Henry, but the NFL needed his heavy-handed discipline at the time. During Goodell’s leadership, the NFL went from the most popular league in sports to crossing over and becoming the most popular entity in society.
Klis’ take: Goodell made his unfortunate two-game suspension decision on the Rice matter as a favor to Bisciotti. He blew it. When Goodell was asked why he shouldn’t resign, he astonishingly responded: “Because I have acknowledged my mistake.” If only the 2.4 million people locked up in United States’ jails and prisons had thought of that. Goodell can no longer be trusted. And trust is everything for a commissioner. Cass must go. And the 32 owners must immediately suspend Goodell. If he doesn’t resign, the owners must discuss whether he should, for the best interest of the league.
