NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during his state of the league address yesterday "pledged that the league is pursuing a series of changes to retain fans and viewers" following this season's dip in ratings, according to Matthew Futterman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Goodell said that the league is "exploring a series of changes to its telecasts and the game itself." That includes "having fewer, but likely longer commercial breaks, bringing more order" to a "TNF" schedule that CBS, NFL Network and NBC shared, and "speeding up replay reviews using a tablet on the sideline and transitions between scores and kickoffs using a clock." Futterman noted advertisers "likely won't like the idea of fewer, but longer, commercial breaks because they already see the breaks as too cluttered." Such a plan would "run counter to what networks are trying to do, which is have fewer ads during each break to increase the value of each spot." Meanwhile, Goodell said that the NFL was "exploring the idea of starting another developmental league for players who can’t make 53-man rosters" (WSJ.com, 2/1). Goodell, on falling TV ratings, said, "We have been focused on this long before this year. What we're trying to do is to make our product as exciting and our games as exciting and as action-packed as possible" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/2). PFT's Mike Florio said, "Even though the ratings rebounded following the election, it's still important to look at that entire broadcast and spot the places where fat can be trimmed. ... I really liked what they did last year, Week 16, Cowboys-Lions, they did a split screen where they stayed at the game with a camera on the sideline while they ran a commercial" ("PFT," NBCSN, 2/1).
THROWBACK THURSDAY: Goodell said Thursday night games are something the league is “very committed to.” He noted “TNF” was the “the No. 2-rated show on all of primetime on NBC this year and No. 4 on CBS, so we see our fans reacting positively to that.” Goodell did note it is possible not all 32 teams will play a Thursday night game in the future (NFL Network, 2/1). He said, "We've seen high quality football on Thursday night." He added that there is "no proof there’s an increased health risk for players associated" with Thursday games. Goodell: "We have seen absolutely no indication there’s further risk for injuries ... on Thursday night rather than Sundays" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/1). In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan writes Goodell's "insistence" that "TNF" games "give us a superior product to Sundays joins last year’s foolishness that it’s just as easy to get a concussion falling off your living room couch as it is playing on a football field." Sullivan: "This year's edition of absurdity, delivered with the same seriousness of tone and similar straight face, might prove the silliest of all" (Bergen RECORD, 2/2). ESPN's Adam Schefter said "TNF" is a "big issue, I think, for players." Schefter: "That will be interesting to see, what the player reaction is to some of those comments" ("NFL Insiders," ESPN, 2/1).
ONE MAY LEAD TO THE OTHER: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson noted Goodell "sounded open to hearing" the NFLPA's proposal that would "take some of the sting out of the league’s current disciplinary process concerning positive tests for marijuana." However, Goodell "framed it in the broader context" of the CBA, "seeming to suggest changes may need to be negotiated as part of a larger agreement (or possible even a labor agreement extension)." The NFL is "willing to talk about tweaking the drug policy and having a more open mind on sanctions regarding marijuana if the players union is willing to sit down and start talking about extending (or simply renegotiating) the current labor agreement." However, the union would "rather the NFL tweak the drug policy without having to go into new labor negotiations." Robinson: "Sounds like harmony on the subject may still be elusive. But the underlying message is the league is willing to talk about the drug program if the union is willing to barter other aspects of the current labor deal" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/1). NFL Network's Judy Battista said of reopening the CBA, "They have wanted to do that for quite a while. This is the most public he has been about the desire to go into the CBA and extend it." NFL Net's Ian Rapoport said the marijuana discussion is one that is "going to come into the crosshairs of discussion between the NFL and NFLPA" ("Super Bowl Live," NFL Network, 2/1).
POLITICALLY SPEAKING: Goodell yesterday was asked about President Trump's executive order on immigration and replied by saying, "We're aware of the conversations that are going on and the division. As commissioner of the NFL, I'm singularly focused on the Super Bowl." In N.Y., Ebenezer Samuel writes NFL's owners "don't owe it to anyone to condemn Trump's immigration ban." However, the NFL's "handling of all things Trump has been insulting." That includes the league going "out of its way to scrub any quotes involving Trump from NFL transcripts on Super Bowl Media Night on Monday" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/2). THE RINGER's Bryan Curtis wrote Goodell yesterday was "at his most political -- which is to say apolitical." He "wouldn’t mutter a word against Trump" and instead "turned to the healing power of football." He said during his press conference, "We have a unique position to have an event on Sunday that will bring the world together" (THERINGER.com, 2/1). In N.Y., Ken Belson writes the NFL has "long struggled to find neutral ground between its biggest annual game and the events that swirl around it." As the Super Bowl has "grown from a game to a weekend to a two-week news media rodeo attracting thousands of reporters, the league has opened itself up to more lavish publicity, but also more scrutiny and criticism" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/2).
PUNDITS SOUND OFF: In Chicago, David Haugh writes Goodell has "become so good at saying implausible things with a straight face that you wonder if he rehearses in front of a mirror." When he "tried selling the audience on the merits of those lousy Thursday night game, which only put money in the NFL's bank and put players at-risk," he confirmed yesterday's event would be "no more believable than past productions" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/2). THE RINGER's Curtis wrote Goodell every year at his state of the league address "dodges potholes, exploits sloppy questions, and slips punches." His answers are the "kind a politician would applaud" (THERINGER.com, 2/1). ESPN's Bill Polian said NFL Exec VP/Communications Joe Lockhart's influence "shows here." Polian: "Incredible performance, that's an 'A.' Maybe the best one we've ever seen from him" (ESPN, 2/1). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Goodell's answers are "often weak of substance." Yet there is "no questioning his ability to deliver them with unflappable confidence" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/1). In Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton writes Goodell's demeanor is "chilly" and his answers "sound scripted." Goodell "refuses to budge from the company line" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 2/2). In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs writes the more Goodell talks the "emptier his suit got" (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/2). In Atlanta, Jeff Schultz writes Goodell is "coated with Teflon." Schultz: "He brushes off all criticism" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/2). In K.C., Sam Mellinger writes under the header, "NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell -- Taker Of Arrows, Spewer Of Nonsense" (K.C. STAR, 2/2). NFL Network's Jeffri Chadiha said, "Every time he gets in front of a microphone now, he has to be ready for these kinds of questions. He looked very uncomfortable at certain points, did not want to get into it" (NFL Network, 2/1). PFT's Florio said at times there seems to be "a little bit more than an obsession with how the NFL is viewed and what the image of the commissioner and the league office is." Florio: "Many are saying that maybe they should spend less time about worrying about the image and more time focusing on getting it right all the time" ("PFT," NBCSN, 2/1).
