Will Roger Goodell Ruin the NFL?

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:00 pm

This isn't so much about the way he is enforcing the new personal conduct policy, its more to do with his seemingly "non-football' way of managing the league.

He has made it clear through ESPN that he anticipates moving the Pro-Bowl to the weekend before the SuperBowl, as a "lead in" to the climax of the season?

What??

He says that it won't happen this year due to obligations with the state of Hawaii, but its on his agenda going forward.

Does anyone other than me think this is borderline retarded? There are several players every year who are on Superbowl teams who are elected to the Pro Bowl. Why would you put the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl???

That could be the most pedestrian, corporate-minded way of doing the pro-bowl that I've ever heard of. His crowning achievements have been is "pro activeness" in adminstering the conduct policy. The jury is still out on how that actually affects the league. But his judgment here brings into question just how much of a football guy he is vs. a corporate guy.

Sure the NFL is a "business', however the product is football. I don't know if the "Allstar game" should be played likely without the best players who happen to play on the two best teams...in addition to the players who choose not to play.

andyjens89 · Post by **andyjens89** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:45 pm

DOWN WITH GOODDELL

juansushi · Post by **juansushi** » Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:48 pm

This poll might be somewhat confusing since the subject is about Goodell ruining the league and the actual poll question is about the Pro-Bowl. I would answer no to both questions, but maybe some people here think that Goodell is going to actually ruin the NFL (hard to think that any one man could do that).

In any case, I would think that the owners/coaches/players would probably strenuously object to this move and it may have just been him thinking out loud.

Since players are not currently obligated to play in the Pro-Bowl, then I'd guess that the players on the Super Bowl teams would just not play.

From a business standpoint though it isn't a bad idea to have it that weekend since the fans are still in football season form, just don't expect to actually get all of the players that were voted in to play. You can watch them the following week in a better game anyway :twisted:

jon

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:14 am

Yes the title may be a little misleading. My apologies. I just think that Goodell is well intentioned, but wayy too overzealous in how he came into the league.

I think that he really believed that if he came down with an IRON fist, then the rest of the league would get the message and get in line. I don't think that will happen as swiftly as he may have thought.

I also think that some celebration rules that he has championed are a bit ridiculous....you can spin the ball in place, but not spike it after a play. It just seems like the players have to think twice before using emotion.

Now the Pro Bowl. This seems very counter intuitive. Yes, as a fan I HATE the two weeks between the Championship games and the Superbowl. However, with the heightened media coverage, I get my fill.

I don't know how many times I saw Lovie Smith and Dungy's life stories and media coverage of the Bears/Colts

I can't count the times I heard Bettis was returning to Detroit for his final game. The bottom line is, the real fans of football don't have to see the pro bowl that week. We still pay attention.

And it shouldn't come at the expense of keeping the All Stars from the two Superbowl teams off the roster.

Last year

Reggie Wayne
Marvin Harrison
Peyton Manning
Tarik Green
Jeff Saturday

Olin Kreutz
Tommie Harris
Lance Briggs
Brian Urlacher
Robbie Gould
Devin Hester

All made the Pro bowl and the Superbowl. Now, in addition to the fact that it must feel good for Peyton to finally play in that game after winning a ring, it just seems like the Pro Bowl will start being an obvious corporate commodity that is unrelated to the 'best' players playing, rather than being a game that is an honor to be selected to play in.

either way the game will be successful so why do it like this? My personal opinion is that Goodell is not a football guy and I ultimately believe that he will be bad for the league in general.

Tagliabue was a good commissioner because the league 1) grew 2) became more profitable 3) became more popular 4) and he maintained good relations between the owners and the players

People may have thought he and Upshaw were too close, however their relationship was good for football. There was prosperity and no labor problems for the game. I don't think Goodell has the same kind of ability to keep these relationships intact. His Robo Cop image is refreshining now, but what happens next.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:34 am

As long as Sean Taylor and a punter show, I'm good for the pro bowl.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:41 am

JansenFan wrote:As long as Sean Taylor and a punter show, I'm good for the pro bowl.

LOL...after last year, I think Taylor will show, but the punter may take a raincheck.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:18 am

I wonder if he's going to make the NFL his own or will he just continue to grow an already good product?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:22 am

What a dumb move.

Mursilis · Post by **Mursilis** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:33 am

I can't believe he's even considering this. There's simply no way any coach of the two Super Bowl teams allows his players to play in the Pro Bowl if it's before the Super Bowl. Not only is there the risk of injury in the PB, a meaningless game, but it's also a distraction and robs key players of SB prep time. I just can't see any coach allowing that.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:35 am

Mursilis wrote:I can't believe he's even considering this. There's simply no way any coach of the two Super Bowl teams allows his players to play in the Pro Bowl if it's before the Super Bowl. Not only is there the risk of injury in the PB, a meaningless game, but it's also a distraction and robs key players of SB prep time. I just can't see any coach allowing that.

He'll probably fine the coaches that do hold back their players, too. :roll:

Mursilis · Post by **Mursilis** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:57 am

Irn-Bru wrote:
Mursilis wrote:I can't believe he's even considering this. There's simply no way any coach of the two Super Bowl teams allows his players to play in the Pro Bowl if it's before the Super Bowl. Not only is there the risk of injury in the PB, a meaningless game, but it's also a distraction and robs key players of SB prep time. I just can't see any coach allowing that.

He'll probably fine the coaches that do hold back their players, too.

Doesn't stop a convenient injury though. And besides, most coaches and/or owners would gladly eat that fine.

Redskins Rule · Post by **Redskins Rule** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:46 am

Irn-Bru wrote:
Mursilis wrote:I can't believe he's even considering this. There's simply no way any coach of the two Super Bowl teams allows his players to play in the Pro Bowl if it's before the Super Bowl. Not only is there the risk of injury in the PB, a meaningless game, but it's also a distraction and robs key players of SB prep time. I just can't see any coach allowing that.

He'll probably fine the coaches that do hold back their players, too.

Nah, He'll just suspend the players from the superbowl! :shock:

juansushi · Post by **juansushi** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:12 am

Redskins Rule wrote:
Irn-Bru wrote:
Mursilis wrote:I can't believe he's even considering this. There's simply no way any coach of the two Super Bowl teams allows his players to play in the Pro Bowl if it's before the Super Bowl. Not only is there the risk of injury in the PB, a meaningless game, but it's also a distraction and robs key players of SB prep time. I just can't see any coach allowing that.

He'll probably fine the coaches that do hold back their players, too.

Nah, He'll just suspend the players from the superbowl!

If he does that, then I change my answer to "yes, Goodell is going to ruin the NFL"

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:28 am

The Pro Bowl is a joke! This game in HI has evolved recently to another NFL TV event and the NFL may actually charge for this in the future - who cares?

Last year Brady was not on the roster, and there were a number of players who were there who did not "deserve" to be there - again, I ask, who cares?

If it is played the weekend before the SB then obviously it would not include players from those teams - who cares?

By the way - I like the way Goodell is managing the NFL :lol:

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:49 am

SkinsJock wrote:Who cares?

While I would be the first to point out the many problems with the ProBowl – players not participating over injury concerns, the TV event feel, the popularity contest to get it, etc. – I am still one to care because I would like to see the ProBowl salvaged and kept as a tradition in the NFL. It's a bit of joke right now, but Goodell's proposed plan would only worsen that, while I can imagine the ProBowl being honorable in the near future if a few features were simply tweaked.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:36 am

Irn-Bru wrote:
SkinsJock wrote:Who cares?

While I would be the first to point out the many problems with the ProBowl – players not participating over injury concerns, the TV event feel, the popularity contest to get it, etc. – I am still one to care because I would like to see the ProBowl salvaged and kept as a tradition in the NFL. It's a bit of joke right now, but Goodell's proposed plan would only worsen that, while I can imagine the ProBowl being honorable in the near future if a few features were simply tweaked.

I totally agree FFA - my frustration comes from where this "event" has been taken in the past few years and the criteria for getting "selected" is what is driving my frustration. The "game" itself is a joke :shock:

That is why I do not think that anything about this is that big a deal - The players could be selected by fantasy football league winners for all it means to me - especially as it stands now.

That being said, I agree, the Pro Bowl could be a decent game again with some tweaking.

This is a joke but if it has to be this way then I would prefer that no Redskins are involved in actually playing but all those Redskins who deserve to go should be given a free ride to Hawaii with as many people as they need to take along. No limit. :lol:

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:00 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:
SkinsJock wrote:Who cares?

While I would be the first to point out the many problems with the ProBowl – players not participating over injury concerns, the TV event feel, the popularity contest to get it, etc. – I am still one to care because I would like to see the ProBowl salvaged and kept as a tradition in the NFL. It's a bit of joke right now, but Goodell's proposed plan would only worsen that, while I can imagine the ProBowl being honorable in the near future if a few features were simply tweaked.

I agree, and in addition, the players care. Being named to the Pro Bowl is a measuring stick that comes into play in contract negotiations, hall of fame consideration, etc.

So while a lot of people don't 'care' for the game, it does have some meaning.

skinsfan#33 · Post by **skinsfan#33** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:56 pm

I'm fine with it being the weekend before. I hate that no football Sunday! I would rather they moved they Superbowl up one week like they have some years, but I think that isn't going to happen any more. The Probowl the week after the SB is like cuddling after sex.

Maybe move it to late March, early April, or June when everyone is jonesing (sp?) for football!

Thinking any player would show up the week before the Superbowl who is actually playing in the SB is absurd.
Thinking the NFL would fine guys that didn't show up or suspend them is just as ludicrous.

andyjens89 · Post by **andyjens89** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:19 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:He'll probably fine the coaches that do hold back their players, too.

Or suspend them for the season

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 2:47 pm

I am all for the steroids policy, and I am all for anything that hurts the cowboys....but their coach got suspended for using performance enhancers?

Geez. I guess they want to keep it as far from football as possible.

tribeofjudah · Post by **tribeofjudah** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 12:38 am

I don't know about this poll but.....

Goodell is GOOD for Football...... Standards must be high for the best sport and best league around.

PulpExposure · Post by **PulpExposure** » Sat Sep 08, 2007 4:32 pm

The Hogster wrote:just think that Goodell is well intentioned, but wayy too overzealous in how he came into the league.

Interesting you say this. I'd love to hear the story from you of how he came into the league...back in 1982.

FYI, Unlike Tags, who came into the league after being a practicing lawyer/partner at Covington & Burley (prestigious DC lawfirm) who occasionally represented the NFL, Goodell is an actual NFL lifer. Served under Pete Rozell, then Tags.

He's the ultimate insider, pretty much. From intern to Commissioner of the NFL.

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 12:53 pm

I love Goodell, I think he's doing a great job.

The Pro Bowl could not be more irrelevant. And while I don't think moving it to the week before the Super Bowl will really change that, I do think it's an improvement.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 1:33 am

PulpExposure wrote:
The Hogster wrote:just think that Goodell is well intentioned, but wayy too overzealous in how he came into the league.

Interesting you say this. I'd love to hear the story from you of how he came into the league...back in 1982.

FYI, Unlike Tags, who came into the league after being a practicing lawyer/partner at Covington & Burley (prestigious DC lawfirm) who occasionally represented the NFL, Goodell is an actual NFL lifer. Served under Pete Rozell, then Tags.

He's the ultimate insider, pretty much. From intern to Commissioner of the NFL.

In 1982 he wasn't in a position of influence, I think that goes without saying.

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Will Roger Goodell Ruin the NFL?

Should the Pro Bowl Be Played the week before the Superbowl??

Will Roger Goodell Ruin the NFL?