Roger Goodell wraps up 'tough year' by addressing key NFL issues

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

PHOENIX – This is the kind of season it has been for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: In his pre-Super Bowl news conference, he was asked if there were any scenario in which he could envision resigning or being fired.

"No I can’t," Goodell said, with some laughter rising from the media over his flat answer. "Does that surprise you?"

We know the issues. Ray Rice. Adrian Peterson, Deflate-gate. Fights with the NFLPA over a reworked conduct policy. And so forth. That's why Goodell's annual state of the league address, which lasted about 45 minutes, came in front of a packed room.

It's no surprise that it has been a stressful time.

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"Listen, it has been a tough year," Goodell continued with his answer. "It has been a tough year on me personally. It’s been a year of what I would say humility and learning. We obviously as an organization have gone through adversity, but more importantly it has been adversity for me. That is something where, we take that seriously. It’s an opportunity for us to get better. We've all done a lot of soul searching, starting with yours truly. And we have taken action."

(AP)
(AP)

Goodell discussed the new policies on domestic violence and the conduct policy in general, saying they're helping the league move forward. He said that experts and advisers have helped the league understand the issues better.

"We've made enormous progress," Goodell said. "Things we didn't know, and where we were in August, is not where are today. We're in a good place."

The most pressing issue during Goodell's news conference was with deflate-gate, the controversy with the New England Patriots using deflated footballs during the first half of the AFC championship game. He said that the investigation will be fair and thorough, and no judgments have been made. As to Patriots owner Robert Kraft's comment at the beginning of this week that he wants an apology if the NFL's investigation headed by Ted Wells finds no evidence of wrongdoing, Goodell wasn't moved.

"This is my job," Goodell said. "This is my responsibility to protect the integrity of the game. All of us want to make sure the rules are being followed. If there’s information the rules are being violated, I have to pursue that and I have to pursue that aggressively."

Goodell said there was no information at this time if an infraction by the Patriots took place.

Here were some other issues Goodell addressed:

• Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch met with the media for each of his required sessions, but offered one-line answers two times and didn't answer many questions on the third. While Lynch felt he fulfilled his obligation, Goodell said his staff would look next week at that and Lynch wearing an unauthorized hat during his media sessions. He said no decision has been made on Lynch and any possible punishment.

"I’ve been very clear that when you’re in the NFL you have an obligation to the fans," Goodell said. "It’s part of your job. There are things we all have to do in our jobs we may not necessarily want to do. I think Marshawn understands the importance of the Super Bowl, the importance of his appearance and the importance of him as an individual in this game. Fans are curious, fans want to know. And the media would like to make that story clear to our fans."

• There wasn't a lot of news on deflate-gate, mainly because the league is investigating and Goodell has no answers yet. His message was that the league wanted to figure out the simple answer or if rules were violated.

"Whether a competitive advantage was actually gained or not is secondary in my mind to whether that rule was violated," Goodell said. "That's the integrity of our game. When those rules are violated, we will take that seriously.

• The topic of a team possibly moving to Los Angeles, specifically the St. Louis Rams, was approached, and Goodell said with any team that has a stadium issue, it is a priority to work it out locally. As for the reported threats that Rams owner Stan Kroenke would attempt to move to Los Angeles without NFL approval, Goodell didn't believe that would happen.

"I'm confident all of that will be covered within the relocation policy, with our membership approval," Goodell said.

• Goodell addressed Richard Sherman's claim that Goodell has a conflict of interest and gives favoritism to certain owners. Sherman made that claim based on a photo of Goodell at Kraft's house before the AFC championship game. Goodell said he won't stop going to owners' homes for similar events.

"No I won’t," Goodell said. "I was at the Krafts’ residence along with season-ticket holders, sponsors, media sponsors … that’s part of what we do. I was there to participate in a program with our partner, CBS, taking questions from the audience. It’s something I do on a regular basis. It’s not unusual."

He said he works with Kraft on multiple committees and he has a working and personal relationship with him, but nothing will compromise the deflate-gate investigation.

"Professionally I have a relationship with him and I also admire and respect and think very highly of him on a personal level," Goodell said. "There’s no hiding from that standpoint. Since he knows me so well and he knows I am not going to do anything to compromise the integrity of the league, I think he has no doubt I’ll do the right thing for the NFL."

• Goodell said concussions were down from 173 in 2012 to 111 this season. He credited coaches and players.

"They’ve adjusted to the rules and creating a culture of safety for our game," Goodell said.

He said the league will continue to improve its concussion protocol.

• Goodell discussed the extra point being automatic, and making it tougher in the future. The league experimented last preseason and in the Pro Bowl with narrower goal posts or making extra points longer. It sounded like change is imminent. 

"We expect to advance these ideas through the competition committee this offseason," Goodell said of extra points.

Goodell also said that expanding replay to include looking at penalties will be considered, as long as it doesn't delay the game.

• The NFLPA has been upset with the NFL over its conduct policy changes, which the union says it wasn't consulted on. Goodell said there was a push to "raise standards in the NFL" and changes had to be made, such as not waiting on law enforcement and the legal process to play out to determine NFL punishment. 

"We will continue to work with them and to strengthen that policy," Goodell said.

• The NFL has discussed expanding the playoffs, perhaps to 14 teams, but Goodell made it sound like that proposal is still up in the air. He said he doesn't want to dilute the regular season or conflict with the College Football Playoff with an extra game.

"There are positives to it, but there are negatives to it as well," Goodell said.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!