The Deflategate fallout could signal a change in Roger Goodell’s workload.
The Washington Post reported Friday, citing several people familiar with the situation, that NFL owners will discuss potential changes in the commissioner’s disciplinary role. This comes one day after U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman ruled against Goodell and the NFL by lifting New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension.
Goodell has taken a lot of heat for his role in the entire process, which reportedly has owners wondering whether his responsibilities in similar future situations must be changed.
“There will certainly be discussion about that,” an unnamed NFL owner told the Post, although that person also indicated he’s “not sure where it will lead.”
The NFL Players Association obviously would like to see the process changed. Goodell served as the arbitrator in the Brady appeal, but the NFLPA would rather see an independent arbitrator. A person “familiar with the league’s inner workings” told the Post it’s unclear at this point whether there would be enough support among NFL owners to change the process.
After this seven-month Deflategate debacle, it wouldn’t be surprising if there’s growing support to cut some of Goodell’s power.
