Goodell must be ready to change role in player discipline, owner says
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes it may be time for a change when it comes to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's role in disciplining players.
After Goodell’s public defeat to Tom Brady over the Deflategate case, Blank may be just the first of many NFL owners to question the league's discipline under Goodell. Blank spoke about the defeat, noting it was bad for the league, and while he never spoke directly against Goodell, he did make it clear that "change may be appropriate."
“It’s not healthy for the NFL to be in the kind of litigious position that it’s been for last several years,” Blank said, via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think that the commissioner is working hard to hold up the respect and integrity of the game, the competitive balance of the game and the shield. Having said that, I think we have to find ways to get to a better place sooner with the NFLPA than the process that we’ve gone through.”
Blank hinted that finding ways to get to a better place likely includes the NFL changing its approach to player discipline.
“This Deflategate thing — which isn’t about Deflategate any longer, it’s about what has been collectively negotiated for decades in terms of the commissioner’s responsibility in terms of disciplining players,” Blank said. “If we have to look at that differently in today’s light, in today’s environment, as an ownership group we should be prepared to do that. The commissioner should be prepared to do that.”
It appears Blank has thrown down the gauntlet, and his statement could be taken as a challenge to Goodell's role as the judge and jury.
Several times in the past few years, judgments rendered by Goodell have been found to be too severe when put to appeal.
“I would have rather seen it end with a positive ruling for the NFL,” Blank said. “I understand why the commissioner and the league feel as strongly as it does about trying to protect the rights that for decades have been collectively bargained. I think that is important.
“I don’t think they should be re-bargained in a federal court. Having said that, I think the commissioner and the ownership around the league have to be prepared to look at things, look at change, and change may be appropriate.”
It sounds as if Blank is diplomatically saying he wants Goodell to relinquish at least some of his power — if not more than that. Likely he’s not alone, either. The ruling was an embarrassment to the league, especially after the affair was dragged out as long as it was.
Now it’s time to move on, and Goodell may have to make changes to facilitate a turnaround in public perception.
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