Can Roger Goodell Make A Comeback?

@Jim from KC First of all the owners don't risk their money, they buy the team then black mail the city into building them a brand new stadium with plenty of luxury boxes for their friends. The players are the ones who built this league. When the Baltimore Colts SuperBowl Championship was broadcast on national television the game took off. This game is a pure spectator sport and NFL owners come and go. There's a great foundation laid out by the NFL to were it's a can't F-up business. If all the private onwere disappeared tomorrow corporations and other trust funds would purchase teams and the game would go on and we would all watch are favorite players and teams. Owners are overrated, important but overrated. My opinion they should only get 20% of the pie and the players and retired players 80%. I don't see many owners in wheel chairs at the age of 55 due to on job injury. It's a privleage to own a team. I'd be pumped to own a team were I just broke even every year. I wouldn't be upset if I didn't make a profit I'd just be stoked to be around football

@Jim from KC I won't argue that there isn't an entitlement problem in this country, you're right on there. However, I think you're being unfair to the NFLPA here. The NFL players are more like actors or musicians. It would be like if all the record labels and concert venues got together and said they wouldn't allow any more music or concerts to be produced because the artists were making too much money and since it's their record label or concert hall they should get most of the money even though the customers who buy the music/go to concerts could care less about where they get the music from, they just want the music. Yes, the owners are an important part of the equation, but the players aren't just "workers" they are also the product that people buy. It just isn't the same as someone who works in a factory.

I am excited for FA as well. I agree that Goodell's rep cannot be salvaged. It takes a lifetime for a person to build an image and seconds to destroy it. Goodell definitely falls under this category. Just for kicks, I liked the comment about "Tag's reign." Got a good laugh out of that phrase.

As the labor dispute between the players and the owners winds down, several thoughts run through my mind. It seems like this is a microcosm of what is taking place in the country. In other words the players and a lot of the fans have been whining and showing that they feel a sense of entitlement. That the owners who have put their money and time into building the NFL into the golden goose and they somehow owe the players and the fans. The players, a lot of whom would probably end up with a jug in a paper bag on some street curb if it wasn't for that goose that the greedy owners produced have been pampered like powdered assholes from a very early age because they were exceedingly skilful at playing a game, that they love to play. Every one agrees that the avg career in the NFL is short, but most of us have to work until we are 60 or 65 to retire. If we lose our job, we are expected to find another one or learn a new skill. Why should football players be any different? Fans have very little invested in their fandom and it is all voluntary, no one forces fandom on anyone. No one but another fan can appreciate all the stuff that fans do such as body paint, costumes, cheeseheads feathered head dress and such. It is all voluntary, So why does so many fans think that owners who put several millions of their money into an enterprise like an NFL franchise owe them anything except to put out a team for them to watch if they have the price of a ticket. The entitlement idea that so many people in this country have fallen into, where if you whine and bitch loud and long enough, that the govt. will give you public housing, food vouchers, health care and cradle to the grave living is alive and well even in the NFL.

@KC Oracle @greens @FmsAmos "Yes, I'd like the name to read 'CLUNT', and could you use dollar signs instead of numbers?

@greens @FmsAmos This is funny. I'm sure we can get one made.

@greens @FmsAmos Now that's funny. We can probably get one made.

I'm going to disagree here. People blame Goodell for the fines he levies because they disagree with the rules. The rules are voted on by the owners, and he gets the bad wrap for enforcing them. Like or dislike the rules all you want, but in the end they are the rules and they need to be upheld. He levies the fines, but there are other people that look at the offenses, pass judgement, and then he fines players based on the their rulings. Yes, I am sure that he has wiggle room, but ultimately he is enforcing what is on the books which ultimately that is what his job is. As far as him saving his image, not likely. By doing his job and basically being the spokesman for the NFL he is going to get beat up by the media and fan base. Anyone in a position of leadership in a corporation will understand that whether or not you like or agree with what the CEO and board decide you have to support that decision. If you do not support it and do not want to be in that position of looking like the bad guy that's fine, but you need to look elsewhere for employment. It goes with the old saying, "Gotta pay the cost to be the boss." Personally I have respect for the guy because he takes all of this incredibly well, and I would lose that respect if he came out in the media and borrowed power from the owners, "Well, I don't agree with this, but the owners voted on such and such so I have to enforce it." That's the chickensh*t way of doing things.

@FmsAmos Oh man, I wish they sold Clark Hunt jerseys. It'd make Christmas shopping for Big Matt so much easier.

I like the Chamberlain reference. The comments by Harrison went too far but i am going to see if those hits he referenced on Vince Young and Drew Brees are searchable.

Goodell was in on it the whole time. Hell if I thought he was smarter than what he is then I'd say it was his idea but I'm gonna chalk that up to an owner more along the lines of an Jerry Jones type. Heck they were putting hundreds of millions away for when the lock-out came. That's not just preventive maintenance there that's part of the plan to make sure the owners hold leverage over the players. These owners are billion aires, the players average contract is less than $650,000 for three or four years. Thats alot of money for that time period but fortunately humans live a little longer so you divide that up by their expected life span and your talking less than 50,000 a year. That's why 98% of retired players go bank rupt, you get a couple million dollars then buy a house for your mom then yourself and all of a sudden your outta of money so for the billion aire owners skimming off the top of the players is criminal. I go to games to watch the Chiefs players not the owners. I buy Eric Berry and Tamba Hali jerseys not a Clark Hunt jersey. Being an NFL team owner is a privilege, making money should come last. I'd kill to be a team owner even if I just broke even every year. Making money would just be a Bonus.

I expect Goodell to be in with the owners, even in their scheme to bail on the current CBA and evoke a lock-out. That was 100% in the owners plans, they were putting millions back for when the lock-out came to try and have leverage on the players, who by the way aren't million aires let alone billion aire team owners. People have to realize the average career of an NFL player is 4yrs. say he gets a 12million dollar contract in that time. It sounds like tons of money but that same player is expected to live 70 to 80 yrs old so say he retires at 30 and dies at 80 you've got fifty more yrs to live and pay for so divide that 12millon by 50 that's less than $240,000 a yr. That's good money and I wouldn't complain if that's what I amounted to in my life but I wouldn't be a million aire

You know if Goodell hadn't written that absolutely absurd letter that was published (in the Times maybe?) I wouldn't really have any major problems with what he has done/said during the lockout. The lockout was brought on by the owners, not Goodell, but he has no choice but to work for them since they are basically his boss. I don't have problems with the fines and suspensions for the players either. I did think that letter was the worst thing I read from anyone the entire lockout.

I am excited for FA as well. I agree that Goodell's rep cannot be salvaged. It takes a lifetime for a person to build an image and seconds to destroy it. Goodell definitely falls under this category.

Just for kicks, I liked the comment about "Tag's reign." Got a good laugh out of that phrase.

As the labor dispute between the players and the owners winds down, several thoughts run through my mind. It seems like this is a microcosm of what is taking place in the country. In other words the players and a lot of the fans have been whining and showing that they feel a sense of entitlement. That the owners who have put their money and time into building the NFL into the golden goose and they somehow owe the players and the fans.

The players, a lot of whom would probably end up with a jug in a paper bag on some street curb if it wasn't for that goose that the greedy owners produced have been pampered like powdered assholes from a very early age because they were exceedingly skilful at playing a game, that they love to play. Every one agrees that the avg career in the NFL is short, but most of us have to work until we are 60 or 65 to retire. If we lose our job, we are expected to find another one or learn a new skill. Why should football players be any different?

Fans have very little invested in their fandom and it is all voluntary, no one forces fandom on anyone. No one but another fan can appreciate all the stuff that fans do such as body paint, costumes, cheeseheads feathered head dress and such. It is all voluntary, So why does so many fans think that owners who put several millions of their money into an enterprise like an NFL franchise owe them anything except to put out a team for them to watch if they have the price of a ticket. The entitlement idea that so many people in this country have fallen into, where if you whine and bitch loud and long enough, that the govt. will give you public housing, food vouchers, health care and cradle to the grave living is alive and well even in the NFL.

When there is an agreement, everyone will be shaking hands and saying nice things about each other. Goodell presumably will be fine because he did what his bosses wanted him to do. From our perpective, if the season starts on time and provides entertainment, why would we be unhappy with Goodell?

I'm going to disagree here.

People blame Goodell for the fines he levies because they disagree with the rules. The rules are voted on by the owners, and he gets the bad wrap for enforcing them. Like or dislike the rules all you want, but in the end they are the rules and they need to be upheld. He levies the fines, but there are other people that look at the offenses, pass judgement, and then he fines players based on the their rulings. Yes, I am sure that he has wiggle room, but ultimately he is enforcing what is on the books which ultimately that is what his job is.

As far as him saving his image, not likely. By doing his job and basically being the spokesman for the NFL he is going to get beat up by the media and fan base. Anyone in a position of leadership in a corporation will understand that whether or not you like or agree with what the CEO and board decide you have to support that decision. If you do not support it and do not want to be in that position of looking like the bad guy that's fine, but you need to look elsewhere for employment. It goes with the old saying, "Gotta pay the cost to be the boss."

Personally I have respect for the guy because he takes all of this incredibly well, and I would lose that respect if he came out in the media and borrowed power from the owners, "Well, I don't agree with this, but the owners voted on such and such so I have to enforce it." That's the chickensh*t way of doing things.

I like the Chamberlain reference. The comments by Harrison went too far but i am going to see if those hits he referenced on Vince Young and Drew Brees are searchable.

Goodell was in on it the whole time. Hell if I thought he was smarter than what he is then I'd say it was his idea but I'm gonna chalk that up to an owner more along the lines of an Jerry Jones type. Heck they were putting hundreds of millions away for when the lock-out came. That's not just preventive maintenance there that's part of the plan to make sure the owners hold leverage over the players. These owners are billion aires, the players average contract is less than $650,000 for three or four years. Thats alot of money for that time period but fortunately humans live a little longer so you divide that up by their expected life span and your talking less than 50,000 a year. That's why 98% of retired players go bank rupt, you get a couple million dollars then buy a house for your mom then yourself and all of a sudden your outta of money so for the billion aire owners skimming off the top of the players is criminal. I go to games to watch the Chiefs players not the owners. I buy Eric Berry and Tamba Hali jerseys not a Clark Hunt jersey. Being an NFL team owner is a privilege, making money should come last. I'd kill to be a team owner even if I just broke even every year. Making money would just be a Bonus.

I expect Goodell to be in with the owners, even in their scheme to bail on the current CBA and evoke a lock-out. That was 100% in the owners plans, they were putting millions back for when the lock-out came to try and have leverage on the players, who by the way aren't million aires let alone billion aire team owners. People have to realize the average career of an NFL player is 4yrs. say he gets a 12million dollar contract in that time. It sounds like tons of money but that same player is expected to live 70 to 80 yrs old so say he retires at 30 and dies at 80 you've got fifty more yrs to live and pay for so divide that 12millon by 50 that's less than $240,000 a yr. That's good money and I wouldn't complain if that's what I amounted to in my life but I wouldn't be a million aire

You know if Goodell hadn't written that absolutely absurd letter that was published (in the Times maybe?) I wouldn't really have any major problems with what he has done/said during the lockout. The lockout was brought on by the owners, not Goodell, but he has no choice but to work for them since they are basically his boss. I don't have problems with the fines and suspensions for the players either. I did think that letter was the worst thing I read from anyone the entire lockout.