Several NFL owners want to change commissioner Roger Goodell’s role so that he is no longer the sole voice deciding initial player punishment for violation of league rules, according to a report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN.
Owners want to adjust Roger Goodell’s role, according to report
Several NFL owners reportedly no longer want Roger Goodell to be the sole voice of player punishment.
Alex Goodlett
During last week’s league meetings, multiple owners suggested that instead of having Goodell decide punishment for players, the NFL should instead have a neutral arbitration panel selected by the league and NFL Players Association. Goodell’s role would instead shift to that of an appellate officer who would come in to play if a player decided to appeal the punishment handed down by the panel.
Mortensen said that union representatives “sounded dubious about the idea” and that the change would likely require collective bargaining.
Goodell has come under fire in 2014 for his decisions regarding player punishment, particularly, for a two-game suspension handed to former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. After further evidence of Rice's domestic violence was released by TMZ, the suspension was extended indefinitely and Goodell admitted that he "didn't get it right."
According to Adam Schefter, NFL attorneys denied a request from the NFLPA to have Goodell testify in front of the U.S. district judge hearing to decide Rice’s appeal of his suspension.
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