Roger Goodell Gets Disapproval Rating From 61 Percent of NFL Players

by NESN Staff on Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 11:45AM

The city of New Orleans has been grinding its teeth about Roger Goodell all season and promising to make this year’s Super Bowl less than comfortable for the NFL commissioner.

Now, with the big game just days away, Goodell is also facing the increased ire of the league’s own players.

While NFL players have long shown displeasure for Goodell and the way he is running the league, a recent USA Today poll has put an exact number on just how many players can’t stand the man: 61 percent.

About two-thirds of NFL players “disapprove of the job Goodell has done overall,” according to USA Today, with the biggest complaints being about increased fines and the Bountygate scandal. USA Today said it polled 300 players on active rosters or practice squads between Dec. 19 and Jan. 12.

The article also noted that the margin of error was plus-minus 5 percent — meaning that, on his best day, Goodell is still presiding over a league where at least half of the players aren’t happy with him.