NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed fans and media earlier this week from Phoenix, the home of Super Bowl LVII. He commented on several issues related to the game.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the state of the NFL in annual press conference before the Super Bowl
Many of the topics on Goodell’s agenda focused on his vision for the future of the league, and where he sees it headed in 2023 and beyond. However, there are certain elements of his overall focus that have a percentage of fans and critics scoffing.
Goodell definitely hit on a lot of serious issues of the modern era – including diversity efforts, officiating, and player health and safety – during his news conference on Wednesday. The NFL’s top man told the media that the league is “pleased to see progress” in its efforts to increase diversity at the coaching and executive level.
However, he also added, “We always look to see how can we do better.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the state of the NFL in annual press conference before the Super Bowl
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Roger Goodell stated that much of the success in terms of equal hiring practices can be traced to the implementation of the Front Office Accelerator Program.
It focuses on recruiting and developing worthy minority candidates for both front-office and executive field positions.
“We’re gonna continue (the accelerator program),” Goodell said. “Our commitment’s strong to that. But that’s just one. We had a number of other programs that we’ve put in that I think are going to produce long-term results. Now we all want short-term results, but it’s important to have it be sustainable for the future, and we believe diversity makes us stronger.”
“It’s about attracting the best talent and giving them the best opportunity to be successful. To me, that’s at the core of what we do. We want the changes to be really fundamental and sound and sustainable.”
Regarding criticisms of the officiating, most notably in the AFC Championship Game, Goodell defended the league’s referees.
“I think for us when you look at officiating, I don’t think it’s ever been better in the league,” Goodell said. “There are over 42,000 plays in a season, multiple infractions could occur on any play, take that out and extrapolate that, that’s hundreds if not millions of potential fouls, and our officials do an extraordinary job of getting those.”
“Are there mistakes in the context of that? Yes, they are not perfect, and officiating never will (be). But we’ve also had obviously replay and other aspects that help us address those issues to make sure they’re not something that we can’t correct on the field.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the state of the NFL in annual press conference before the Super Bowl via FOX10 News YouTube
Despite Goodell’s sunny outlook, his annual meet-and-greet was struck with some criticism.
In particular, Outkick.com columnist Armando Salguero, who countered The NFL Commissioner by writing the following:
“What I saw from Goodell and some of the reporters who covered the presser was a thoroughly woke event striking the chords of some of the hottest woke topics of today… Feminism. Globalism. Racism. Ageism.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the state of the NFL in annual press conference before the Super Bowl via FOX10 News YouTube
“And the message from Goodell on these topics clearly picked winners and losers, specifying the way the NFL wants things to go,” he asserted. “So women are more valuable than men. Black is more valuable than white, or brown, or Asian. Placing teams and pleasing fans abroad is more important than in the United States.”
“And, finally, younger is more valuable than older.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the state of the NFL in annual press conference before the Super Bowl via FOX10 News YouTube
Salguero pressed on, saying that the NFL’s more politically correct, globalist agenda is indicative of a sharp turn for the game under Goodell’s continuing leadership.
“This wasn’t read-between-lines stuff. This was Roger Goodell picking sides and making his argument for those sides,” he declared.
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