Goodell’s Extension: Back to the Mail Room?

Super Nomario

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Kraft is participating in the same contract negotiation. Nothing to stop him from going the same route Jones is going.
That wouldn't give him any leverage with Deflategate, though, because DG is ovah. Going scorched earth now would just be for revenge.

I don't think what Jones is doing is Kraft's style, and it seems like he blames Pash more than Goodell anyway.
 

Stitch01

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What Jones is doing is pure revenge too. He’s not going to get Elliott back a day sooner. I’m not advocating Kraft join Jones, I just don’t think leverage is really an issue, neither of them have it in terms of reversing the discipline.
 

dcmissle

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Weirdly, that social ostracism at yesterday’s game in Atlanta may bother and worry Jones more than anything else. Jerry is not Al Davis; Jerry needs attention and love. The other 31 can make Jerry’s life miserable — and some day, Stephen’s life miserable.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I hope Kraft shows up at a podium tomorrow and says "I have reflected on the decisions made by the Commissioner over the past few years and am not comfortable he has the judgment and temperment to lead us going forward. I thank him for his service and look forward to working with the selection committee to find someone with the experience, wisdom, and gravitas to help guide the league forward during this exciting time"

I don't think joining Jerruh on the scorched-earth parade is helpful, and I worry there's a level of distraction for the on-field folks that might result from that. But I also think Goodell is proven to be an unreliable, unfair, out-of-his-league wildcard and if I were an owner I'd want a serious guy in that role to handle CTE and other real issues that the league will face.
 

Hoya81

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JJ would have been better off going to war after the uncapped year fines. Given all the focus on all forms of violence against women, threatening legal action to protect a suspected batterer seems particularly tone deaf.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I don't think he could have then---the owners weren't going to risk the CBA for anything.

Plus, he had literally no case there when one reads the documents. I know at a high level the argument 'can't get a salary cap penalty for an uncapped year' makes sense, but when you read both the missives from league and exec committee prior to those signings, and the wording of the penalties there is really not any credible case for Jones or the Redskins on those. And that, I think, is what their lawyers told them and why they quickly retreated.

I grant your point that optics on this one are sketchy for him...
 

BigJimEd

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I hope Kraft shows up at a podium tomorrow and says "I have reflected on the decisions made by the Commissioner over the past few years and am not comfortable he has the judgment and temperment to lead us going forward. I thank him for his service and look forward to working with the selection committee to find someone with the experience, wisdom, and gravitas to help guide the league forward during this exciting time"

I don't think joining Jerruh on the scorched-earth parade is helpful, and I worry there's a level of distraction for the on-field folks that might result from that. But I also think Goodell is proven to be an unreliable, unfair, out-of-his-league wildcard and if I were an owner I'd want a serious guy in that role to handle CTE and other real issues that the league will face.
I wish Kraft had been doing this for the last 9 months or so. As a fan, I don't think Goodell has done a good job. And I don't understand why fans are afraid Kraft might Kraft on his bad side. I don't see it negatively affecting the on field performance.

I understand why owners were happy with Goodell's performance a few years ago. Revenues up, Thursday night deal. New CBA, etc...
But there are plenty of reasons to be concerned now and I would be hesitant to give him a new deal. Never mind a basically guaranteed deal that gives him carte Blanche.
Regardless of Jones' motivation, I think he makes good points although probably too late in the game.


Edit: As for Kraft, yes you for criticized by fans but many, probably a heavy majority, gave you a pass because they felt there was little to accomplish. I'm not sure that has been the case the past year.
 

OnWisc

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While I have little doubt that Jones actions here are motivated solely for a desire for revenge, he may be unintentionally doing himself a favor by publicly turning on Goodell. The commish has very publicly mishandled so many situations that at this point his public perception is basically "he's a buffoon, but revenues are up."

It's really not a matter of whether Goodell will fuck up again, but when, and on how big of an issue? With any concept of plausible deniability on the owners' part being long ago blown out of the water by Goodell's track record of incompetence, his next gaffe will land squarely on their shoulders in the perception of the public. When that happens, Jones can recolor today's revenge-motivated actions as an "I told you so moment" and leave the rest of the owners holding the PR bag on whatever Goodell's ineptitude inevitably brings down on them. I wish Kraft had the foresight to do the same.

EDIT: Actually, I don't care what Kraft does. I just can't wait for Belichick and Brady to retire so I can wash my hands of this league. I'm so happy we traded JG so if he does prove out to be a franchise QB, I won't feel forced to re-up for another decade.
 

Hagios

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Weirdly, that social ostracism at yesterday’s game in Atlanta may bother and worry Jones more than anything else. Jerry is not Al Davis; Jerry needs attention and love. The other 31 can make Jerry’s life miserable — and some day, Stephen’s life miserable.
In case anyone else was not up to date on the osctracism, this seems to be it:
Asked if he had talked to Blank at all since he threatened to sue his fellow owners, Jones said, "Not today."

Do you expect to?

"I don't know," said Jones, who is in a feud with other owners over the pending contract extension of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

What's the protocol on sideline, Jerry, before the game?

"Usually, home owner comes over toward visiting sideline, we can talk on field," Jones said, "but there is nothing in the book, like standing for the anthem."

"Is it personal with Arthur?" Jones was asked.

"The point is we should let all the owners decide," Jones said, referring to the contract extension.
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/11/12/fox-cameras-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones-avoids-falcons-owner-arthur-blank-game
 

InstaFace

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JJ would have been better off going to war after the uncapped year fines. Given all the focus on all forms of violence against women, threatening legal action to protect a suspected batterer seems particularly tone deaf.
The Elliott situation is a bit different, though: there were no criminal charges, numerous factual disputes with the NFL's investigators (who are not exactly Sherlock Holmes judging by their history), and Elliott vociferously contests the accusations. The original article mentions:

"Several witnesses, according to sources close to the case, had heard the woman yell at Elliott that she would "ruin his career" when she was unhappy that they would not continue their relationship."

I think it's fair to say this is not a Ray Rice cut-and-dried situation, and we've seen that Elliott is going to the mat to protect his reputation. Why shouldn't Jerry back his player? Maybe he doesn't get anything changed about the suspension, but the NFL's whole process here smells nearly as bad as Ballghazi. Telling Elliott "I believe you, innocent until proven guilty, I'll fight with you and for you" is something the players and agents will notice and appreciate.
 

Hoya81

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The Elliott situation is a bit different, though: there were no criminal charges, numerous factual disputes with the NFL's investigators (who are not exactly Sherlock Holmes judging by their history), and Elliott vociferously contests the accusations. The original article mentions:

"Several witnesses, according to sources close to the case, had heard the woman yell at Elliott that she would "ruin his career" when she was unhappy that they would not continue their relationship."

I think it's fair to say this is not a Ray Rice cut-and-dried situation, and we've seen that Elliott is going to the mat to protect his reputation. Why shouldn't Jerry back his player? Maybe he doesn't get anything changed about the suspension, but the NFL's whole process here smells nearly as bad as Ballghazi. Telling Elliott "I believe you, innocent until proven guilty, I'll fight with you and for you" is something the players and agents will notice and appreciate.
I’m not really making a judgment on the facts of Elliot’s case. I meant that league’s recent record towards DV cases combined with the current news environment seem that it would difficult for Jones to cultivate a base of support to launch his coup d'etat.

If JJ was pissed about something more mundane like a tampering violation, he might have a better shot.
 

InstaFace

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or, say, a concocted didn't-actually-happen violation of an obscure rule that has nothing to do with on-field competition?

c'mon, there's always a reason to say "this battle isn't the one worth picking", or "you can't win this one, so don't pick it". Sooner or later, you've got to stand on principle if you don't want to keep getting run over. This strikes me as being as fine a choice as any - if you're convinced that Elliott didn't really do it and there isn't a TMZ videotape lurking out there, that is.
 

Stitch01

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Jerry got a cease and desist order from the owners on the Compensation Committee mentioning that if he continues he could be fined, suspended, or stripped of draft picks.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/13/nfl-tells-jerry-jones-to-cease-and-desist/

Just my humble opinion, but the one allegation that ultimately burns Jones if its true is if someone can prove that Jones approached Schnatter about disparaging the NFL on the the Papa John's earnings call. I think the other owners go out for blood if that turns out to be true.
 

jmm57

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In these situations, who owns the branding of the team? I'm the unlikely event Jerry were removed, could he refuse to let the NFL use the star logo/Cowboys name? The building itself is owned by the city of Arlington I believe?
 

epraz

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I'm sure whatever clause would allow them to force him to sell would include the team IP. But man oh man that would be an epic shitshow.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Owners to discuss the extension at a December 13 meeting. Apparently one of the sticking points is Goodell's severance package for when he retires after the next CBA and TV deals are hammered out:

Some owners have said the new pay package being sought by Goodell is "unseemly" and "offensive." Goodell's base salary is $3.5 million -- and would remain the same under the new contract -- but with bonuses from performance incentives, his total compensation package far exceeds the annual salary of the NFL's highest-paid player.

According to the document, one of the negotiations' sticking points is the amount of severance that would be paid to Goodell, who intends to retire early after a new collective bargaining agreement is met and new contracts are signed with the NFL's TV network partners, the document shows. The committee proposes paying Goodell $40 million upon his resignation as commissioner, while he is seeking $62.5 million, according to the document.

The commissioner also has an agreement to serve as a consultant for five years after leaving the NFL for a lump sum payment of $19 million, the document shows.

In a story Sunday by Peter King of MMQB.com, Goodell was said to be open to a contract with as much as 88 percent in bonuses, saying, "I'm willing to bet on myself." But in the analysis of both sides' initial proposals by Daniel J. Ryterband, the chief executive officer of F.W. Cook, Goodell's counteroffer "includes language that could be interpreted to mitigate the ability of the committee to adjust pay downward (even if performance is poor)."
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21439466/nfl-owners-hold-dec-13-session-dealing-roger-goodell-impending-contract-extension
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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He’s either an idiot, has Saturn balls made of adamantium or he has a serious amount of dirt on enough owners to make these kinds of demands without flinching.

I’m betting on #3.
 

Van Everyman

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Another Van Natta/Wickersham journalism bomb in the WWL Magazine. Starts with this little nugget:

THERE WAS A PAUSE. It was Aug. 9, inside Roger Goodell's sixth-floor office at the NFL's Park Avenue headquarters in New York City -- down the hall, past the executives' offices and his assistant's desk, and through a large, thick wooden door that is both imposing and usually left open to serve as a welcome. Goodell huddled over a speakerphone with general counsel Jeff Pash. On the other end was Jerry Jones. Adhering to the protocol of giving owners a 48-hour heads-up before a major disciplinary issue involving their team is announced, Goodell and Pash informed Jones that after a 13-month domestic violence inquiry, the Dallas Cowboys' star running back, Ezekiel Elliott, would face punishment -- a six-game suspension.

The line went quiet. Seconds passed. Goodell's decision was an unconscionable violation of trust, Jones later told associates, because he believed that the commissioner had assured him this past spring that there would be no suspension. Jones saw in Elliott a genuine opportunity, a player so good that he had made Jones believe that this year he just might win a Super Bowl for the first time since 1996. His anger was palpable. Finally, according to sources with direct knowledge of the call, Jones broke the silence. He aimed his words not only at Goodell's decision but also at his role as judge, jury and executioner in the case.

"I'm gonna come after you with everything I have," Jones said. Then he mentioned Deflategate. "If you think Bob Kraft came after you hard, Bob Kraft is a p---y compared to what I'm going to do."
http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/21441056/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-bitter-battle-saw-coming-led-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones

Article goes on to describe how the bad blood has been building for awhile and how much of the current disagreement lies in the power and size the league office has accumulated.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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I don't see how the other owners can let Jones think he can run the league. I'm all for throwing Goodell out in the street but I can't imagine Jerry is gonna pull it off here if the precedent is set that whenever Jerry dislikes something, he gets his way.
 

Van Everyman

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That, in my view, is exactly what the owners are hoping to accomplish with this article: that this is Jerrah on a power trip, obsessed with his own interests to the detriment of the league. This isn’t DVN and SW’s best work in that regard.

Article, BTW, doesn’t think Goodell loses his job over this. Some pretty good LOL’s over other choices tho:

The owners, though, have considered other successors. A confidant of one owner reached out to gauge whether Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, would be interested in running the NFL, to which Silver immediately said no. Owners have also considered looking to the International Olympic Committee for someone with global experience to grow the game -- or even installing the 76-year-old Tagliabue for a year while a committee searched for the ideal successor. Jones has told confidants that he has his own candidate in mind, which Jones has publicly denied. Few owners are interested in allowing Jones to essentially handpick the next commissioner. Even so, Jones has vowed, sources say, to make Goodell's life miserable. "Jerry's message to Roger was 'I run this league. You better get with it,'" a senior league executive says. "This is about power and control, not the contract. That's all white noise."

That's why, no matter how often some team executives say not to underestimate Jones, and no matter how frustrated many owners are with the state of the league, the support to remove Goodell doesn't seem to be there. Jones has the Redskins' Dan Snyder and a handful of other owners on his side; there are a dozen or so owners who just want to extend Goodell and get the story out of the headlines; and the rest don't approve of Goodell's performance, not because they agree with Jones but because they believe Goodell has empowered him to a fault, especially given the ugly situation with two relocated franchises drawing small crowds in Los Angeles. "Switching commissioners is like switching from an iPhone to a Samsung," one ownership source says. "Do my pictures transfer? Do my contacts? Does my music? In the end, why take the risk?"
 

Average Reds

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In these situations, who owns the branding of the team? I'm the unlikely event Jerry were removed, could he refuse to let the NFL use the star logo/Cowboys name? The building itself is owned by the city of Arlington I believe?
Regardless of how he has structured his holdings, the Cowboys are a franchise. If a sale of the of the team is mandated, the IP will be included.

Th stadium is a grey area, and I will admit that I don’t know who owns the facility - my recollection is that it’s somewhat complicated. Regardless, the owner of the stadium doesn’t control the team logos. (To answer your question.)

Won’t happen in any case, but I’m fairly certain that Jones could not block use of IP if he’s forced to sell.
 

Super Nomario

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Another Van Natta/Wickersham journalism bomb in the WWL Magazine. Starts with this little nugget:



http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/21441056/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-bitter-battle-saw-coming-led-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones

Article goes on to describe how the bad blood has been building for awhile and how much of the current disagreement lies in the power and size the league office has accumulated.
Ugh, some gross stuff in there. Especially:

Goodell is already beginning to duplicate his most valuable contribution to the 2011 CBA deal: unifying the owners en masse against the union. Pash has advised the owners in meetings to prepare for a bloody and bitter battle in four years -- a fitting possible capstone to the tumultuous Goodell era. "I'm here for you through that," Goodell has told some owners. "After that, you guys should start having a conversation."
Also not a fan of Kraft reportedly calling Goodell to pressure him to suspend Elliott.
 

Steve Dillard

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These guys are supposed to be visionaries?

They're like a petulant bunch of kids who don't pay attention to the facts or process, and don't care about process until the arbitrary and unfair process involves them, then turn around and want the Commish to be equally arbitrary and unfair with someone else.
 

Harry Hooper

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An avalanche of unattributed comments in that article, not worthy of publication.
 

Gash Prex

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That was a pretty damn good article - really lays out the behind the scenes of the NFL. Frankly, it reminds me again that all these powerful billionaire owners are just ordinary people in the end that are petty, jealous and have lots of money. Also, it sounds like the owners have been more perceptive about the NFL's issues than the league for years. Seems clear to me they need to clean house - but are stuck in a rock and hard place.

Say what you will about Jerry, but he knows how to run the power play - and he backed his words up about bringing everything he has against Goodell. The problem for Goodell is when you make a deal with the devil, aka Jerry, your comeuppance will surely arrive sooner rather than later.
 

AB in DC

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That, in my view, is exactly what the owners are hoping to accomplish with this article: that this is Jerrah on a power trip, obsessed with his own interests to the detriment of the league. This isn’t DVN and SW’s best work in that regard.
That's funny -- I read that article and came out more pro-Jerry than I've ever been before. Anything that might lead to Goodell's power being diminished, or leaving, is a-ok with me.
 

dhappy42

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Another Van Natta/Wickersham journalism bomb in the WWL Magazine. Starts with this little nugget:



http://www.espn.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/21441056/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-bitter-battle-saw-coming-led-dallas-cowboys-owner-jerry-jones

Article goes on to describe how the bad blood has been building for awhile and how much of the current disagreement lies in the power and size the league office has accumulated.
This anecdote sure narrows down the list of VanNatta’s and Wickersham’s sources. How many people could have heard Jones on that call? Makes me think Goodell himself is the source.
 

tims4wins

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I have had a lot of sports hate in my life - guys like Jeter, Manning, Joey Porter, Dwayne Wade, Alex Burrows, etc. etc. But most of that was because they were good players who I didn't like because they played well against my team.

Roger Goodell transcends sports hate. I have never met the man, but I hate everything he stands for. Every time I see his face on TV or wherever I get angry. I wish physical harm upon him. I am a glass half full person. I give people the benefit of the doubt. I don't like confrontation. I fucking hate Roger Goodell.
 

mauidano

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Rich greedy old guys playing politics with other peoples lives. What's not to hate? Fuck all of them including Kraft.
 

Van Everyman

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That's funny -- I read that article and came out more pro-Jerry than I've ever been before. Anything that might lead to Goodell's power being diminished, or leaving, is a-ok with me.
I'm not disagreeing -- I've actually found myself agreeing more with Jerry during this debacle than I ever imagined I would (and not just because he's anti-Goodell).

But the agendas feel pretty transparent here here: league sources leaking stories that make Jerry look like a petty, arrogant drunk, pro-anthem standing owners painting league executives as scared to stand up to Goodell (say what you will about Lockhart -- he is not a yes man). For an article that purported to be an inside look at these deliberations, it felt to me that the writers took an awful lot of what they were told at face value.
 

Dr. Gonzo

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Wasn't the guy's friend who the guy panned to black and laughing? Viewing the video, I assumed Jerry was making a joke about the two friends sharing a hotel room.
 

Marciano490

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I always assumed the video of Jones getting handsy with those women, like a decade ago, was just the tip of the iceberg.
I mean, if this video is the worst that they have on Jones, I'll have more respect for him in an odd way. I imagine it's more of a shot across the bow, though.
 

BigSoxFan

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I always assumed the video of Jones getting handsy with those women, like a decade ago, was just the tip of the iceberg.
Jerrah has basically screwed half of Dallas. Honestly surprised that we haven’t seen more.
 

Marciano490

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Weren’t those like three years ago?

And Marciano, I get a small % of any prize, this is all because Goodell has dirt on many of them.
Yeahhh. I hate the idea that Goodell might've been bumbling as a front and is actually the savviest, coldest mother in the room.
 

tims4wins

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Goodell is savvy from the perspective that he realizes he is only there to face the bullets and collects his $40M PER YEAR laughing all the way to the bank. I hate him and wish bad things upon him but for $40M a year I’d probably do what he has done too. He’s banked like $300M or more.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Yeahhh. I hate the idea that Goodell might've been bumbling as a front and is actually the savviest, coldest mother in the room.
I hate it too, but that's the way I'm leaning. I don't think he's a moron. And only a moron or a guy holding top hand would make those kind of demands to his employers or directly threaten Jerry Jones in such fashion. I could easily be giving him way too much credit, but if it somehow came to blows and he started dropping leaks on the owners, I would have to give him props.
 

jimv

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Yeahhh. I hate the idea that Goodell might've been bumbling as a front and is actually the savviest, coldest mother in the room.
I prefer to think another cold, savvy mf is manipulating the two bumblers into mutual destruction.

Maybe Stephen Jones feels its his time to take over the team and this is pretext for moving Jerry out to pasture
 

Reverend

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I have had a lot of sports hate in my life - guys like Jeter, Manning, Joey Porter, Dwayne Wade, Alex Burrows, etc. etc. But most of that was because they were good players who I didn't like because they played well against my team.

Roger Goodell transcends sports hate. I have never met the man, but I hate everything he stands for. Every time I see his face on TV or wherever I get angry. I wish physical harm upon him. I am a glass half full person. I give people the benefit of the doubt. I don't like confrontation. I fucking hate Roger Goodell.
You had a classical education, didn’t you?
 

pappymojo

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I wish Jerry Jones would anonymously start airing the NFL's dirty laundry - for example, what was the name of the NFL receptionist who was on tape talking about how bad the Ray Rice video was even though the NFL's independent investigation confirmed that no one at the NFL saw the video.