In an item posted earlier today, we explained that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s refusal to allow an outside entity to review the discipline imposed by him under the personal conduct policy had become the biggest remaining issue in the nearly-completed CBA talks.
Appearing at Panthers camp, Goodell talked about the stranglehold he plans to maintain over the policy.
Asked whether he’d be willing to permit some external body review his decisions, Goodell said (per Steve Reed of CarolinaGrowl.com), “The answer to that is no, I’m not going to be open to that. I’m not going to hand off the brand and the reputation of the NFL to somebody who is not associated with the NFL. I promise you that. That is one of the number one jobs as a commissioner in my opinion.”
Goodell then explained that his viewpoint isn’t necessarily popular with the teams that employ him.
“Mr. Richardson doesn’t like this because he’s my boss, one of 32, but I have disciplinary power over them and have had the unfortunate experience of fining him too, by the way,” Goodell said.
Reed reports that Richardson then held up two fingers and said, “Yes, twice.”
The players don’t seem to be as charitable, and if someone doesn’t blink it’ll be even longer until new players can get on the field.
For now, it’s unlikely that Goodell will be the one blinking.