Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank believes it may be time for a change when it comes to the amount of power NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wields in the future.
After Goodell’s very public defeat to Tom Brady over the Deflategate issue, Blank may be just the first of many NFL owners to question Goodell’s future. He spoke about the defeat, noting it was bad for the league. And while he never spoke directly against Goodell, he did make it clear change is necessary.
“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 at the fact that finding ways to get to a better place likely includes Goodell losing some of his power.
“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 certainly appears Blank has laid the gauntlet down, and his statement cannot be taken any other way than this: Goodell cannot continue being the judge and jury.
Too many times in the past few years, judgements rendered by Goodell have been struck down in a court of law. Going back to Bountygate, Adrian Peterson and now Brady—among others—the commissioner’s discipline has been found to be too severe when put to the legal test.
Blank further touched on the disappointment of the ruling against Goodell and for Brady.
“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.”
If that doesn’t spell doom for this commissioner, then I’m not sure what would.
It seems 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 end up moving on eventually as well to facilitate a turnaround in public perception.