ESPN Mosley: Roger Goodell is in Dallas today... Boys draw favorable sked

[WoodysGirl]

Ask The Commish
April 16, 2008 9:57 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is in Dallas today for a public speaking engagement, and I'm hoping to steal a few minutes with him. Since NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen is moderating the event, I'm guessing we won't hear anything terribly revealing.

I'll be heading over to the luxurious Anatole Hotel at about 12:15 ET to see if Roger has anything to share with Hashmarks. The last time we had a private conversation, he revealed that he's watched High School Musical 2 at least 50 times.

A lot of the local reporters will be grilling Goodell on the Pacman Jones situation. In case you missed it, Jones told Michael Irvin on Tuesday that he would wait for a trade to take place before filing his reinstatement papers. If there's something you've been dying to ask Goodell, now's the time to speak up.

Let me hear from you.



Pacman Jones, Michael Irvin, Roger Goodell

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Cowboys draw favorable schedule
April 15, 2008 3:57 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

The only surprising thing about the Cowboys' schedule is that they received only five prime-time games instead of the maximum six. As I explained earlier, NBC wanted the Giants to open the season against the Cowboys, but FOX wasn't about to let that happen after losing several marquee games last season.

The Giants will host the Cowboys on FOX two days before the presidential election on Nov. 2. The network also has the Browns hosting the Cowboys during the opening weekend. In one season, Cleveland has suddenly become a national draw. The Browns will appear three times on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

Dallas has two back-to-back road trips, but the latter one is interrupted by a bye week. The first back-to-back trip sends the Cowboys to Arizona and St. Louis, which shouldn't be that tough of a stretch.

The Cowboys will host Seattle on Thanksgiving, which doesn't seem right. I'm not sure why, but Seattle's not a team I expect to be watching on Thanksgiving.

The biggest disappointment for Cowboys fans is that the last game at Texas Stadium will involve the Baltimore Ravens. Nothing against the Ravens, but the final game in Texas Stadium should be against the Commanders, Eagles or Giants.

After looking over the schedule, I have the Cowboys going 12-4. They'll lose at Green Bay, at Pittsburgh, at New York and at Philly. OK, now I'm going to take a peek at some of the other NFC East teams.




NFL schedule

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[Dallas]

He is wrong about us losing at Philly this year. No way Mosley!

We sweep Philthy this year.

 

[cobra]

We'll sweep the pathetic Commanders.

We'll sweep Philly, as well.

I think we have a pretty good chance we'll sweep the NYG like we did last year. Eli will either come out as a bust after his year last year, or it will have finally clicked with him and the Giants will be tough.

I expect us to be at least 5-1 in the NFC East.

 

[Rampage]

since when did the steelers become this unbeatable force when it comes to the cowboys playing them? Ive seen so many people say were gonna lose at pitt and idk why? also if we lose at green bay i'm gonna break something.

 

[Vtwin]

Things would have to go terribly wrong for the last game at Texas Stadium to be against the Ravens.

 

[sago1]

Actually I feel pretty confident about playing the Packers in Green Bay. We play them in September when the weather is nice and we should be rolling. Doesn't matter that Dallas hasn't won in Green Bay; that will change this year.

 

[sbuscha]

Things would have to go terribly wrong for the last game at Texas Stadium to be against the Ravens.

The last "regular" season game. I can promise you that it will not be the last!!

 

[WoodysGirl]

Waiting for Goodell

April 17, 2008 6:30 AM


Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

Hearing that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in Dallas for a public speaking engagement, and that free Tex-Mex was being served, I headed over to the Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum on Wednesday. A school official had tipped off Hashmarks that Goodell would speak to reporters before the luncheon, but this proved to be a false tip.

As reporters were ushered toward a makeshift holding area offering limited ventilation, NFL greats such as Drew Pearson, Daryl "Moose" Johnston, Troy Aikman, Pat Summerall, Tony Dorsett and Gil Brandt led Goodell toward a giant ballroom.

As a group of reporters followed at a comfortable distance, a beat writer from The Dallas Morning News finally stepped forward and called the commissioner's name. When Goodell didn't repond, I was forced into action. As I accelerated to the left, one of the two security guards (henchmen) blocked my path. When I used a swim technique to get around the right side, one of Goodell's heavies grabbed my arm and jerked me backward.

I reacted in a completely "professional" manner, simply suggesting that the gentleman keep his hands to himself. By this time, we were entering the back of the ballroom. A woman in a fabulous pants suit cut us off at the pass, saying, "I'm just trying to protect the commissioner."

Job well done, ma'am.

At the head table, professional emcee Scott Murray read a list of 67 sponsors and 17 dignitaries. For no apparent reason, he introduced Brandt, the Cowboys' former director of personnel, three times.

In one of the longest introductions in banquet circuit history, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Chiefs owner Clark Hunt both talked about Goodell. When the commissioner finally stood to speak, he was joined by NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen, who served as the moderator. I enjoy Eisen's work (especially if I could see it), but the interview was a bit too scripted for my taste. I leaned over to Ed Werder and whispered questions that I would've asked Goodell. Werder was busy discussing Darren McFadden's measurables with two strangers in exchange for free guacamole.

Goodell touched on topics of local (Pacman Jones) and national (Spygate) interest, but it wasn't like Eisen was grilling him. I'm pretty sure he asked the commissioner whether he would "look into Pacman's soul" when the two meet this summer.

"It's always good to look into people's eyes in seeing how they say something, and whether they're genuine in what they're saying," said Goodell. "A lot of this can be scripted. A lot of this could be told as this is what the commissioner wants to hear. I will ask questions and will look for response and to see if he's genuine, and see if he's taken responsibility for his actions."

Goodell is rooting for Pacman to turn his life around, but he's obviously in no hurry to reinstate the Titans cornerback. He said he was encouraged by comments he heard Jones make on Michael Irvin's radio show, but he wants to see positive behavior over an extended amount of time.

"You have to remember that a lot of these players are in their early 20s, from very diverse backgrounds, some didn't have the choices I had growing up," said Goodell. "I was very fortunate. We have to understand that players are going to make mistakes. But if you make a mistake, you need to recover from your mistake and you need to develop the resources and make better decisions going forward."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones described the Pacman negotiations as "kind of dormant."

"I don't want to say that it's dead, but I used the term 'it has no energy," he said. "I always feel the longer something drags on, you diminish the chances of it happening. You get a lot of visibility about it with no movement. You are just down the road. ... But I don't totally dismiss it at this time."

Everyone knows that Jerry doesn't mind the "visibility" aspect of the discussions. It's the longest running offseason storyline since the Trent Green standoff of '07. But since there's no end in sight, let's move onto Spygate.

Goodell basically said that nothing had changed since the league "punished" the Patriots in September. He even noted that coach Bill Belichick had sent him a personal check for the $500,000 fine -- as opposed to money order. The commissioner said that he's still hoping to visit with the elusive Matt Walsh, who has hinted that he has damaging information from his former days as a team video assistant.

"I have never met Matt but I'm hoping to meet him some time in the near future. He's indicated he has evidence and new information that would lead to further disciplinary action. I'm anxious to meet with him. I hope that'll happen some time in the next couple weeks."

Perhaps the league could invite Walsh to the draft next week. If he really has something to share, Radio City Music Hall would provide a great backdrop. On Wednesday, Goodell took a playful jab at Sen. Arlen Specter for taking such a strong interest in SpyGate.

"I didn't think that was something the senate was focused on, but I understand a U.S. senator has an interest in this. And I'd be more than happy to share my perspective with him."

Goodell was also asked about an impending NFL labor dispute. It's believed that the owners will opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement by November, which could lead to an uncapped season in 2010.

"Whether they do or they don't, I don't think is that significant. I think the issue here is, it's important for us to have a good relationship between the players and the owners. It has to work for both sides. The players have to get their share from an economic standpoint, and the owners have to be able to operate a successful business."

Goodell complimented Jones on the Cowboys' new stadium, which will open in 2009, but we'll save that for another time. Memo to SMU: Love the forums, but some of us aren't allowed to take three-hour lunches. And where the heck was June Jones? This would've been a great opportunity to showcase him.

Otherwise, it was a great luncheon. Well, except for the henchmen. When last seen, they were staring down a couple of local bankers for making eye contact with Goodell in the hotel parking lot.










Roger Goodell, Matt Walsh, Bill Belichick, Rich Eisen, Tony Dorsett, Troy Aikman, Pat Summerall, Gil Brandt, Drew Pearson, Daryl Johnston

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[big dog cowboy]

In one season, Cleveland has suddenly become a national draw. The Browns will appear three times on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

Mosley is wrong. Cleveland hasn't become a national draw. Just because some idiot in the NFL office likes Cleveland and they get 3 MNF appearances doesn't mean they are a national draw.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't know that playing 12 teams that were playoff potential last year is necassarily favorable.

We did luck out getting Cleveland and Greenbay in September instead of later.

I think the Pittsburgh deal is because they're tough at home and its in the later part of the year where bad weather could effect us is probably why so many have Pittsburgh beating us then.

 

[Boysboy]

I don't know that playing 12 teams that were playoff potential last year is necassarily favorable.

We did luck out getting Cleveland and Greenbay in September instead of later.

I think the Pittsburgh deal is because they're tough at home and its in the later part of the year where bad weather could effect us is probably why so many have Pittsburgh beating us then.

Just b/c they were playoff contenders LAST year doesn't necessarily mean they'll make much noise this year-as we've witnessed in TODAY's NFL. Remember all the pundits predicting the Saints and Eagles to run the tables last year? Who would have thought Cleveland would win TEN games, let alone TWO? Whatever happened to Mangenious and his J-E-T-S? Wasn't Baltimore supposed to win the AFC?

With that being said-just go into the season like everyone is 0-0 without much of an identity. ALOT of surprises will come out.

As for the Steelers-keep in mind, they're one of the few teams out there that CONSISTENTLY invest in the draft, and don't overpay for high priced FAs. IOW-while their OL may have sucked wind last year, and then lost Faneca...who knows? They likely have drafted(and groomed) their replacements in the last couple of years or so. And for that matter-Mike Thomlin may have his Cover 2 personnel ready to go as well.