Decade long deal has Goodell, NFL thinking big - Ingles

It was Roger Goodell on the phone, an expected pleasure, but I asked him anyway: “Roger Goodell. What can I do for you?” After all, I’m making much more money at present than the NFL commissioner, so I could spare some change.

“I’m still making a buck,” Goodell said, laughing. “I’ll make more when everything gets done.”

That is when every single bit of the recently ratified CBA between the NFL’s owners and players has its final I dotted and its final T crossed. Until that moment, which will be soon, Goodell, who reportedly earns $10 million a year under normal circumstances, will have to struggle on the one-dollar salary he promised himself until the agreement got done.

Meanwhile, the commish talked about several things. How many players and fans see him as the villain of this piece/peace. How Chargers boss Dean Spanos’ light touch weighed heavily on owners-players negotiations. How player safety concerns could be softening his product. His concern about quality of play after the lockout. On the San Diego stadium issue. And he even mentioned the word “expansion.” Mentioned. Really. But that’s all.

During his State of the NFL address before February’s Super Bowl in Dallas, Goodell basically said The League would like all of its teams to stay put, knowing several of them — the Chargers, Vikings, Raiders, Jaguars, Bills and Rams — could contract wanderlust unless they get new stadiums. The new 10-year CBA will allow enough money for The League to return to the new-stadium-building business.

The NFL also would like a franchise in Los Angeles, the country’s second-largest market, although L.A. is more bluster and media pimp than substance. But they can’t build a stadium until they know they have a team, and the only way they can get a team at the moment is to have one move there. Chicken, egg.

“It’s one of the great things about the 10-year agreement — we now have the kind of stability to make long-range plans,” Goodell said. “Maybe we would look at expansion.”

Expansion?

“I wouldn’t go down that path yet; we haven’t spent much time on it,” he added. “But, in the long term, we’ll certainly be able to sit down and decide how to grow.”

And in San Diego’s case, is he willing to help?

“I’ve always said the issues have to be determined by local leadership,” he said. “We have experience because we’ve dealt with it. Each situation is unique. If we can help, we certainly will.

“Several years ago Warren Buffett was speaking in Buffalo and told the business community the value of an NFL team to a city. ‘This isn’t just a financial decision,’ he said, ‘but a decision about the value of something that is irreplaceable. The value of an NFL franchise in your market is an extraordinary thing.’ ”

As Admiral Nimitz once said: “When you’re in command, command.” It can be lonely on the bridge. You’re not going to necessarily be beloved by your crew. Since negotiations began, some players wrongly have expressed hatred for Goodell, who is, after all, an employee like them.

And now some coaches are complaining that the elimination of two-a-day practices in pads (only 14 padded practices during the season) and limits to team-sponsored offseason workouts will turn the game into “flag football,” as one general manager, who didn’t have the guts to allow his name to be printed, told Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter.

“Anytime you have a dispute, you’re going to have issues,” Goodell said. “We worked very effectively with the players and they did an extraordinary job with their passion and understanding of the issues. I have great respect for the players.”

It wasn’t a popularity contest. Remember, the only work stoppages during NFL seasons took place during Pete Rozelle’s reign, and he was the most beloved and respected commissioner in the history of sports.

“No,” Goodell answered when asked if he was concerned about his popularity. “My job is to get an agreement that works for everybody: the fans and all parties.”

Goodell couldn’t do it alone. He heaped praise on Spanos, who was in the majority of the meetings over the 2 ½ months leading up to the agreement.

“Dean is somewhat understated in his approach, but he’s very direct,” Goodell said. “He had a huge impact. He doesn’t do a lot of talking. One that stuck out was when an issue was being discussed and a player said, ‘We can’t do it.’ Dean said, ‘Why can’t you do it? What can you do?’ We worked it out and moved on. His timing and directness had a great influence on the negotiations.

“Dean was particularly good on the challenges of getting stadiums built, particularly the challenges in California. This is important to our future, the players and the NFL, and we’re determined to find a solution.”

For certain, the rules changes to protect players (especially offensive ones) since Goodell took the wheel Sept. 1, 2006, have irked many fans, players and even coaches and GMs. But he pooh-poohs the idea that his game has gone soft.

“I support the changes necessary for player safety,” he said. “The game is evolving, and the players did a tremendous job telling us what they think is necessary to prepare for a season. We do talk to coaches. Coaches coach.”

Coaches would like, say, 320 practice sessions a year.

Anyway, with fewer exercises in pads and an offseason in which nobody was allowed to do anything with their respective clubs, I asked the commissioner if he’s concerned about quality of play in 2011.

“Yeah, I think we’ll have to keep a focus on two things — quality of play and injuries,” he said. “We want to see if the quality of play continues to rise.”

Personally, I don’t think overall quality of play has risen in recent years, and I don’t think I’m alone.

But by then I had exhausted time with an exhausted man. Exhausted?

“Yes,” he said, “I think that’s fair to say.”

Roger Goodell earned that dollar he’s making. This article was written by Nick Canepa and appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune.