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The Season from Hell: Inside Roger Goodell's Ruthless Football Machine

Good article....the league is a mess right now and unless something changes it will lose popularity. With that said, the gambling side of the NFL such as wagering, fantasy football, and office pools will never allow the NFL to be a total loss.....no freaking way. My biggest take from that article is that his relationship with Kraft is total BS and clearly details why nothing has ever happened to the Pats with their cheating problems....he and Kraft are too good of buddies.
 
Interesting read. Pretty much an expanded take on what many have thought about Goodell ever since he took over. He's the owner's man through and through. Making money for them is the most important thing he can think of; often to the detriment of what's good for the game. And he has an ego and sense of self-worth that is greatly exaggerated.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
Interesting read. Pretty much an expanded take on what many have thought about Goodell ever since he took over. He's the owner's man through and through. Making money for them is the most important thing he can think of; often to the detriment of what's good for the game. And he has an ego and sense of self-worth that is greatly exaggerated.
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Bullseye...........
 
The biggest problem I have with the whole situation is this: if he's so terrible, and he has a small, privileged inner circle of the owners (even powerful ones like Kraft), how can the rest of the owners not get together enough support to push him out with a vote of no confidence?

I just have a hard time believing that at least 22 of 32 owners (a two-thirds majority) don't value fair treatment for their club over profits. I read somewhere a while back that the Rooney family's profits (income) from a year of operating the Steelers was in the single-digit millions of dollars (there are also minority owners, but Dan/Art II own a 30% controlling share of the team pursuant to the ownership restructuring a few years ago). They don't have a fleet of gold jets and smoke cigars made out of thousand-dollar bills. The team is valued at $1.35B, but that value is locked up in the team, it's not liquid. They could only be billionaires if they somehow acquired 100% of the shares and sold the team.

In a league with 32 teams generating nearly 10 BILLION dollars of revenues, arguably one of the most popular teams (albeit from a fairly small market) only makes its owners a few million a year? And the team has been screwed out of how many opportunities due to the treatment it gets from League officials (including the Commissioner)? How could the Rooneys possibly support Goodell while he repeatedly kicks them in the ***? Have they forgotten that Goodell works for THEM, and not the other way around?

What's even more surprising is that there isn't a single one amongst all the owners who is an outspoken, vocal critic of Goodell. For a guy that only got the job after five rounds of balloting, you would think there were at least 10 owners that didn't vote for him to get the job, who might still not have a high opinion of him. It just seems shocking to me that nobody will eve step up to the podium and say "Our organization thinks the way Roger Goodell has handled [insert incident here] is appalling."
 
I've been watching the NFL since I was a kid and that's a damn long time (since the early 60's) and I used to love it but find myself growing further and further way from it. Was a time when I could watch most any game on a Sunday and Monday night but now I only watch the Steeler games. The league is convoluted with poor management, extremely greedy owners who control the paper commissioner, players that are out of control, rules that are deteriorating the fabric of the league, extremely poor officiating which I think some of which is caused by the changes in the rules, favoritism to particular teams and QB's. This league is a total mess and getting worse. I'll tell you this much, if it when away tomorrow I don't think that I would miss it and that's something that I would have never fathomed in the past.

The first thing that needs to change is get rid of the cancer in one Roger Goodell and hire someone that is impartial. Next they need to try and get back some of the lost respect that the league has lost the last 10-15 years with poor leadership and too much owner interference and too much emphasis on the almighty dollar. The NFL has gone from being a Joe fan game to nothing more than corporate America's game and its killing it. People are finding other things to do rather than get raked over the coals by these greedy damn owners. People are figuring out there are more things to enjoy in life in the fall than the NFL.

The NFL is dying a slow death and no one seems to give a damn especially the owners who are grabbing every last dollar, but then again doesn't it always come down to that?
 
JupiterBnG said:
The biggest problem I have with the whole situation is this: if he's so terrible, and he has a small, privileged inner circle of the owners (even powerful ones like Kraft), how can the rest of the owners not get together enough support to push him out with a vote of no confidence?

I just have a hard time believing that at least 22 of 32 owners (a two-thirds majority) don't value fair treatment for their club over profits. I read somewhere a while back that the Rooney family's profits (income) from a year of operating the Steelers was in the single-digit millions of dollars (there are also minority owners, but Dan/Art II own a 30% controlling share of the team pursuant to the ownership restructuring a few years ago). They don't have a fleet of gold jets and smoke cigars made out of thousand-dollar bills. The team is valued at $1.35B, but that value is locked up in the team, it's not liquid. They could only be billionaires if they somehow acquired 100% of the shares and sold the team.

In a league with 32 teams generating nearly 10 BILLION dollars of revenues, arguably one of the most popular teams (albeit from a fairly small market) only makes its owners a few million a year? And the team has been screwed out of how many opportunities due to the treatment it gets from League officials (including the Commissioner)? How could the Rooneys possibly support Goodell while he repeatedly kicks them in the ***? Have they forgotten that Goodell works for THEM, and not the other way around?

What's even more surprising is that there isn't a single one amongst all the owners who is an outspoken, vocal critic of Goodell. For a guy that only got the job after five rounds of balloting, you would think there were at least 10 owners that didn't vote for him to get the job, who might still not have a high opinion of him. It just seems shocking to me that nobody will eve step up to the podium and say "Our organization thinks the way Roger Goodell has handled [insert incident here] is appalling."
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You forget that the Rooney's share in television revenue, licensing fees, etc. The profits from operating the team are just a drop in the bucket as far as the revenue they receive from "ancillary" sources. Those are the sources that Goodell has maximized for the owners. He's done a damned fine job of that for them and for most of them the money is the biggest factor in their support. Super Bowl titles are great things for us fans. The owners would, by and large, prefer to line their pockets.
 
steelhurt said:
I've been watching the NFL since I was a kid and that's a damn long time (since the early 60's) and I used to love it but find myself growing further and further way from it. Was a time when I could watch most any game on a Sunday and Monday night but now I only watch the Steeler games. The league is convoluted with poor management, extremely greedy owners who control the paper commissioner, players that are out of control, rules that are deteriorating the fabric of the league, extremely poor officiating which I think some of which is caused by the changes in the rules, favoritism to particular teams and QB's. This league is a total mess and getting worse. I'll tell you this much, if it when away tomorrow I don't think that I would miss it and that's something that I would have never fathomed in the past.

The first thing that needs to change is get rid of the cancer in one Roger Goodell and hire someone that is impartial. Next they need to try and get back some of the lost respect that the league has lost the last 10-15 years with poor leadership and too much owner interference and too much emphasis on the almighty dollar. The NFL has gone from being a Joe fan game to nothing more than corporate America's game and its killing it. People are finding other things to do rather than get raked over the coals by these greedy damn owners. People are figuring out there are more things to enjoy in life in the fall than the NFL.

The NFL is dying a slow death and no one seems to give a damn especially the owners who are grabbing every last dollar, but then again doesn't it always come down to that?
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Agreed. What's more, if you substitute the word Nascar for NFL, and the word France for Goodell, your post would still be correct word-for-word.
 
The whole message board is 6 years old now....

 
The tool is going to show up in any thread that dares besmirch anything Patriots or roger godell.
 
Lunar said:
The tool is going to show up in any thread that dares besmirch anything Patriots or roger godell.
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Tried to write a comment on the reputation I gave you but my fingers were on the wrong keys when I was tying LOL .. doesn't matter -- we all know who and what he is
 
I think the blind hate and vitriol directed at the Patriots by many of you reveals much more about your character than mine.

I am very satisfied with my moral standing on this to take some reasonable time and educate myself before jumping to conclusions and to stand up for a scientific method of analysis and to listen to both sides reasonably.

None of you have done any of those things. You don't wait. You don't listen. You don't act with impartiality. You don't reason.

Those tenets are the foundation of a good debate and none of you do any of them. It's like debating with a bunch of 6 year olds discussing who deserves the last cupcake. There is more intelligent debate in that argument than there is here about the Patriots.
 
deljzc said:
I think the blind hate and vitriol directed at the Patriots by many of you reveals much more about your character than mine.

I am very satisfied with my moral standing on this to take some reasonable time and educate myself before jumping to conclusions and to stand up for a scientific method of analysis and to listen to both sides reasonably.

None of you have done any of those things. You don't wait. You don't listen. You don't act with impartiality. You don't reason.

Those tenets are the foundation of a good debate and none of you do any of them. It's like debating with a bunch of 6 year olds discussing who deserves the last cupcake. There is more intelligent debate in that argument than there is here about the Patriots.
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you don't follow your own rules ..

Ignore button is sometimes useful
 
deljzc said:
I think the blind hate and vitriol directed at the Patriots by many of you reveals much more about your character than mine.

I am very satisfied with my moral standing on this to take some reasonable time and educate myself before jumping to conclusions and to stand up for a scientific method of analysis and to listen to both sides reasonably.

None of you have done any of those things. You don't wait. You don't listen. You don't act with impartiality. You don't reason.

Those tenets are the foundation of a good debate and none of you do any of them. It's like debating with a bunch of 6 year olds discussing who deserves the last cupcake. There is more intelligent debate in that argument than there is here about the Patriots.
Click to expand...

Debate 101: Don't declare yourself more intelligent or your argument more valid than those presenting the opposing view, prove/show it.
Don't resort to name calling by direct word or implication; it only weakens your position and provides evidence that your position is weak.
Making an issue of proof an issue of "morality" is a losing proposition. It shows a rigidity of thought and a supercilious attitude that may offend the judges (audience)

I could go on about the mistakes you have made in the above statement when it comes to the tenets of debate. But, being the accomplished debater that you are, I'm sure you realize them. I would suggest that if you consider it a sign of "intelligence" to blindly agree with what you posit about the Pats** and the Colts, you may be on the wrong message board. Perhaps in a Pats** message board your opinions would be met with the "intelligent" discourse you desire?
 
deljzc said:
I think the blind hate and vitriol directed at the Patriots by many of you reveals much more about your character than mine.

I am very satisfied with my moral standing on this to take some reasonable time and educate myself before jumping to conclusions and to stand up for a scientific method of analysis and to listen to both sides reasonably.

None of you have done any of those things. You don't wait. You don't listen. You don't act with impartiality. You don't reason.

Those tenets are the foundation of a good debate and none of you do any of them. It's like debating with a bunch of 6 year olds discussing who deserves the last cupcake. There is more intelligent debate in that argument than there is here about the Patriots.
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Lol, the moral and intellectual superiority game is fun. I can tell from reading your comments in the past 2 hours that in your mind you you are the smartest person in every room you walk into. Must be an absolute joy for your co-workers to be stuck with you 8 hours a day.
 
deljzc said:
I think the blind hate and vitriol directed at the Patriots by many of you reveals much more about your character than mine.

I am very satisfied with my moral standing on this to take some reasonable time and educate myself before jumping to conclusions and to stand up for a scientific method of analysis and to listen to both sides reasonably.

None of you have done any of those things. You don't wait. You don't listen. You don't act with impartiality. You don't reason.

Those tenets are the foundation of a good debate and none of you do any of them. It's like debating with a bunch of 6 year olds discussing who deserves the last cupcake. There is more intelligent debate in that argument than there is here about the Patriots.
Click to expand...

Please tell me the only logical way that 11 of 12 pats** balls could be underinflated while 12 of 12 Colts balls were properly inflated. Remember, if science has proven that all the balls should be underinflated then that means the Colts kept ALL their balls properly inflated DURING the game and they also were able to properly inflate ONE of the pats** ball all the way on the other sideline. How did that one ball escape the dictates of physics?
 
According to Peter King all of the Patriots balls were underinflated. They were all variously under inflated with the most being 2.0 psi or slightly over 2.0 psi. The supposed 12th Patriot's ball was not legal either.

And again, I suspect the Colt's footballs were inflated more at the start of the game - maybe 13.0+, where maybe less worn-in (had more shine on them that maybe repelled the moisture more) or were warmed up more by the equipment staff during the game. The Patriots did have the ball to end the half, so their footballs were in use and likely more wet and more cold than the Colts were. I don't know.

It doesn't take much to alter the psi in a football apparently. If anything it's not an exact science because there are a lot of variables involved.
 
Do we have to ruin EVERY Thread with the Deljzc crap .. I wish I had the power to DELETE comments from this thread .
 
I didn't read the article yet, but the NFL has some interesting issues to deal with. One thing that I have a problem with right now is Goodell's reactionary habits. He seems to let the media or public perception guide decisions rather than doing what is right. I also think that the vision is wrong, in regards to international expansion and rule changes that really don't need changed (the goal posts). Rather than add more rules to the book, why not simplify things and you know, make a catch an actual catch.

The NFL also has an interesting problem with stadium attendance. With the in-home experience improving and becoming a preference for many fans, what becomes of the fans who want to go to games? Tickets, concessions and parking prices continue to rise. Games are getting longer and longer with replay and commercial breaks. A ridiculous number of prime-time games makes it difficult for those who have to go to work. Flex scheduling screws those traveling from another city. At what point are changes made to make the fans a priority rather than simply profits? Not sure they even care about any of these issues.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
At what point are changes made to make the fans a priority rather than simply profits? Not sure they even care about any of these issues.
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That is the problem - read the article he has told the owners he wants to increase the NFL Revenue $25 billion over the next dozen years
 
SteelerFan448 said:
I didn't read the article yet, but the NFL has some interesting issues to deal with. One thing that I have a problem with right now is Goodell's reactionary habits. He seems to let the media or public perception guide decisions rather than doing what is right. I also think that the vision is wrong, in regards to international expansion and rule changes that really don't need changed (the goal posts). Rather than add more rules to the book, why not simplify things and you know, make a catch an actual catch.

The NFL also has an interesting problem with stadium attendance. With the in-home experience improving and becoming a preference for many fans, what becomes of the fans who want to go to games? Tickets, concessions and parking prices continue to rise. Games are getting longer and longer with replay and commercial breaks. A ridiculous number of prime-time games makes it difficult for those who have to go to work. Flex scheduling screws those traveling from another city. At what point are changes made to make the fans a priority rather than simply profits? Not sure they even care about any of these issues.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. The in-game experience is pretty poor right now.

I'm kind of shocked at the number of shills they get to show up now. It's just outrageous how expensive it is. People must have a lot more disposable income than me.

I'm kind of hoping the law of supply and demand catches up to the NFL and prices start to fall. The NFL still generates most of their money from television and corporate sponsorship and corporate ticket block purchases. The prices could fall (or stop increasing) for a while and not effect the NFL's bottom line too much.

The quest for more revenue is not going to happen in the stadium.
 
Gödel has taken the game from the game itself being important to what is going to happen to a player either from off field stuff to hits or actions we see on the field. I like Profootball talk and as I looked at the stories most commented all 12 has to do in some way to either the Patriots or Seahawks player warned of a flag. Nothing on the Super Bowl game itself or the championship games played last week.
 
cpollock said:
That is the problem - read the article he has told the owners he wants to increase the NFL Revenue $25 billion over the next dozen years
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I'll be sure to. Not sure how he will achieve this without squeezing us even more.

deljzc said:
I agree with this. The in-game experience is pretty poor right now.

I'm kind of shocked at the number of shills they get to show up now. It's just outrageous how expensive it is. People must have a lot more disposable income than me.

I'm kind of hoping the law of supply and demand catches up to the NFL and prices start to fall. The NFL still generates most of their money from television and corporate sponsorship and corporate ticket block purchases. The prices could fall (or stop increasing) for a while and not effect the NFL's bottom line too much.

The quest for more revenue is not going to happen in the stadium.
Click to expand...

It is sad to see empty seats in important games during the regular season and at a playoff game. It is pretty much my lone form of entertainment, so I don't mind spending, but I find free/cheap parking, get a free drink at the game and split some nachos to save money. The actually game environment is a blast, but the night games, traffic, drunks and prices take away from the experience.
 
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