PHOENIX -- On the front page of Friday's Arizona Republic, a photo of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell showed Goodell in a shirt and slacks teaching proper tackling technique at a youth football skills clinic.
Goodell assumed a noticeably less defensive stance Friday during his annual state-of-the-NFL news conference at the Phoenix Convention Center but demonstrated agility the commissioner needs to navigate through all the problems plaguing a league with a credibility quandary.
That is not to say Goodell was always fundamentally sound tackling the issues in front of him.
At his best, Goodell humbly reflected on visiting domestic-violence shelters in the wake of the Ray Rice affair and seeing what real fear looks like.
"This commissioner understands this issue a lot better today," Goodell said.
At his worst, Goodell haughtily dismissed a legitimate question from CNN's Rachel Nichols about potential conflict of interest in hiring investigators aligned with the league or NFL owners, giving credence to detractors who view him as arrogant and disconnected.
"I think we have done an excellent job of bringing outside consultants in," Goodell said. "Somebody has to pay them, Rachel. Unless you're volunteering, which I don't think you are, we'll do that."
Somewhere, Goodell's handlers grimaced. If either the Patriots or the Seahawks get away from their game plans Sunday to that degree, Super Bowl XLIX will be a blowout.
After the most tumultuous stretch of his tenure, Goodell clearly came with a goal of restoring credibility to the NFL shield by using the word integrity often in addressing topics from deflated footballs to franchise relocation to conflict of interest. It was as if somebody taped the word across the lectern to remind Goodell. But when Goodell strayed from the script likely intended to cast him as a man worthy of America's trust again, he gave his critics more ammunition and showed the strain he acknowledged.
"It has been a tough year on me personally, a year of humility and learning," Goodell said. "We've all done a lot of soul-searching beginning with yours truly."
The acknowledgment provided a human moment Goodell didn't produce enough of on a day he did little to improve his sagging image.
Besides acting as if Nichols had touched a nerve, Goodell sounded disingenuous claiming he was available every day during the season to reporters when asked about Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's suggestion that the commissioner have weekly media sessions like coaches and players must. Goodell flashed his all-too-familiar condescension shrugging off the idea he ever considered resigning or being fired.
"No," Goodell said. "Does that surprise you?"
Nothing Goodell said in 45 minutes at the microphone qualified as surprising. Neither Goodell's style nor his substance could be considered memorable. He reiterated the league's commitment to investigate fully whether the Patriots broke the rules by using deflated footballs in the AFC championship game even if the process bothers his buddy, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was significant by his absence at Goodell's address. Speaking of Kraft, Goodell stopped short of promising he would apologize as the owner requested if the investigation finds the Patriots guilty of nothing.
Perhaps Friday's biggest takeaway came when Goodell established that the Patriots breaking the rules would outweigh any competitive advantage they may or may not have gained.
"We have rules," Goodell said. "Whether a competitive advantage was actually gained or not is secondary. ... We want the truth."
Many other unrelated, individual issues commanded the commissioner's attention. On Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch's bizarre media strategy at the Super Bowl, Goodell made reference to the "obligation" of every NFL player to be accessible. On the future of instant replay, Goodell hinted it could be tweaked thanks to technology to include penalties. On concussions, he reported a 25 percent decline across the league. On Los Angeles, he stressed no deal was in place to welcome the St. Louis Rams or any other interested franchise, even though reports make relocation seem inevitable. On whether he deserved a pay cut from his $44 million salary, Goodell said, "That's up to the owners."
Nobody expects that, not with a $9 billion league thriving and Goodell taking the brunt of criticism for the rich guys he represents. The most Goodell let his guard down Friday was when Bobby Sena, a 12-year-old selected the NFL Play 60 Super Kid, conveniently changed the subject by asking the commissioner about his fitness regimen.
"I was in the gym this morning at 4:45 doing the elliptical," Goodell said.
Going nowhere fast indeed.
Sports on 02/01/2015