Roger Goodell’s greatest fear

[big dog cowboy]

Roger Goodell’s greatest fear: a death on the field
By Jay Busbee | Shutdown Corner

Roger Goodell is one of the most polarizing figures in professional sports. He's presiding over the nation's most popular sports league at one of its most crucial moments. Whether or not he's the commissioner we need, he's the commissioner we've got. And he's the subject of a fascinating new feature by Don Van Natta Jr. in ESPN The Magazine.

Goodell chose to decline repeated requests for an interview, which is beyond unfortunate given how much ESPN has invested in his league. But through conversations with friends and associates, we learn the commissioner's greatest fear: that a player will die on the field.

As the article notes, Goodell often tells the story of how Teddy Roosevelt saved the game of football in the early 20th century by mandating changes to a game in which 18 players died of skull fractures one year. The NFL has suffered only one on-field death: Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes, who died of a heart attack in 1971.

Read more: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...greatest-fear-death-field-172309755--nfl.html

 

[Phoenix]

As the article notes, Goodell often tells the story of how Teddy Roosevelt saved the game of football in the early 20th century by mandating changes to a game in which 18 players died of skull fractures one year.

Holy smokes. I had never heard this before

That's, like, a LOT.

 

[Future]

His greatest fear should be that people realize everything he does is driven by dollars and revenue, and that saying player safety is a priority is only true because it helps keeps jersey and ticket sales high.

 

[Stryker44]

His greatest fear should be that people realize everything he does is driven by dollars and revenue, and that saying player safety is a priority is only true because it helps keeps jersey and ticket sales high.

And his 29 million dollar take rising exponentially at the same time.

 

[17yearsandcounting]

Im not sure if he is scared about deaths as he is scared about a massive lawsuit launched by former players with brain damage from football.

 

[BringBackThatOleTimeBoys]

To be specific, a hit like Darrell Stingley took and dies would be the worst case scenario.

 

[RastaRocket]

His greatest fear should be that people realize everything he does is driven by dollars and revenue, and that saying player safety is a priority is only true because it helps keeps jersey and ticket sales high.

I don't agree with this completely. I think he makes many risky decisions about player safety and rules that can deter fans away from the game. As much as I dislike Roger, he is a very bold commissioner with a vision.