NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made a crapload of money in 2014 — $34.1 million, to be exact — yet it might not even be the league’s wildest expenditure for that particular fiscal year.
According to USA TODAY Sports, the NFL’s recently filed tax form for 2014 shows the league paid $12.5 million in “investigator fees,” which is a huge increase over the $2.3 million it paid for such fees in 2012.
A logical explanation for this bump in fees is that the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal required a significant chunk of change. The NFL hired former FBI director Robert Mueller to conduct an investigation into that situation. It ended with a report issued in January 2015.
Deflategate also might have played into the jump in “investigator fees,” though it’s far more difficult to assume a direct correlation given that the league’s 2014 fiscal year ended March 31, 2015, according to the form obtained Tuesday by USA TODAY Sports. Ted Wells launched his investigation into the deflated football scandal involving the New England Patriots in January 2015, and it wasn’t released until May 6, 2015 (after the fiscal year ended).
The NFL didn’t immediately respond to comment for clarification about the “investigator fees,” according to USA TODAY Sports.
Thumbnail photo via Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
