Roger Goodell Unwisely Cares About His Legacy, Rather Than Saving NFL

When Roger Goodell finally does care to save the NFL from itself, enforces a convenient policy that pacifies owners and players, declares a consensus rule and caters entirely to the league within his discretion, the NFL can return to prominence and reestablish itself as the much-respected enterprise.

Sadly enough, in the wake of political wars, animus disputes and lingering labor talks, it's the one theme amid a perpetual crisis that has gradually smeared the tenor of the richest sports league in the world.

In the midst of fragile economic times of the modern era, as the NFL still pockets revenue and rises into a primary sport, the delirious minds of fans madly devote their hearts and souls on worshiping their favorite NFL teams.

In truth, if there's a labor stoppage by next season, Goodell announced he'll drop his salary to $1 a year, a glaring indicator of ridiculously the commissioner's salary, wealthy by millions and can invest into businesses or even purchase estates in parts of the country. Almost a week away from the Super Bowl, and the potential lockout clouds the festivities in which the lovely romance toppled and overwhelmed our consciousness.

The corruption looms for a disoriented, chaotic and corrupted industry, ready to self-destruct if Goodell is unwilling to cede his legacy, which it seems more important other than saving the NFL from a grotesque downfall. To this day, the two parties have reached an outrageous point, engulfed in one of the wicked disputes in regards of the NFL's collective-bargaining negotiations.

That is what the fuss is all about, two parties that cannot resolve their difference, cannot reach an understanding to reduce the infighting madness and, in all likelihood, cannot avoid a ghastly lockout. It's certainly not alarming to Goodell, once the sternest and ideal commissioner for installing his singular conduct policy constituted to punish players of wrongdoings, structure and kindness.

He surely, in retrospect, has allowed too much latitude and has been very kindhearted to renegade players, even if an NFL star unlawfully committed horrific crimes or violated that said policy. What's so bad is he hasn't inflicted harsher punishments for players of late, allowing a number of troubled stars to get away with their sins.

On the issue of stressing the significance of morality to set certain barriers and rid the tension or detriment that poisons the industry and places a maligned image on the league, Goodell is anything but an enforcer. With that in mind, thus he once was the NFL Sheriff, we are merely accustomed to his intolerant and bigoted nature, the personality that has earned him an awful reputation. He would rather protect his legacy at the helm for the troubled business, he is by virtue stuck in a storm with the NFLPA, until each party reaches a settlement and constructs a new collective-bargaining agreement.

If nothing else, assuming that Goodell chooses to instead to fascinate populace by simply promoting the sport with strategy to market the one of wealthiest business in existence, it's very important he tries negotiating for a new labor contract or else he can destroy his legacy and endure devastation. The reality is, he has no inkling as far as rescuing the NFL from embarrassment or destruction, and if he ever was the guy who emphasized the significance of integrity and dignity, then Goodell is a different man now!

We can only assume that he's soft and feeble, unwilling to sharpen the landscape of the NFL, disengaged in taking command during his regime tantalized by his lack of aggressiveness and indifferent mental outlook on such an unidentified plague which affects his image. Now it's clear, upon hearing the latest mess surrounding his legacy, that he's neither powerful nor influential in a way to communicate with union executive director DeMaurice Smith.

As for NFL overkill, Smith has the leverage in the ugliest argument emanated to add dismay in the middle weary labor negotiations, until the NFLPA and NFL comes to an agreement in terms on a new labor deal. Unsure of the future status, he's still trying to enhance an 18-game season as a way for stockpiling profit, especially if the primary necessity is for ticket sells to balloon, for people to reserve hotel rooms, for alcoholics to overcrowd bars and lastly for the NFL to become a global industry.

That's what Goodell wants us to believe. Over the next few weeks, this is by far the biggest issue, and instead of overlooking the truth, he should be anxious to resolve the problems before its too late, before the league lose out in profit and protests presumably begin in the streets and madness invoke.

All week, his image took a dramatic fall when he spoke face-to-face with Smith in New York on Wednesday, when he on Capital Hill in the presence of lawmakers and congressional workers including former players and when he said "there's not enough communication" between both sides.

When he uses his flimsy excuse to tell the world that he's not the one to blame, he is almost laughable if he expects us to believe he's not the scapegoat. I don't care that he installed a personal conduct code to bust misbehaved players, he lost tremendous credibility. If Goodell thinks the league is saved, then he's in a sense of denial and disbelief, suddenly an inept commissioner with no barriers or a rational blueprint to serve as an antidote in the NFL.

If football ever was to move forward, vanquish the hurdles of prolonged fuss as the deadline quickly approaches that adds to the horror of a potential lockout and a brutal storm which can dismantle the welfare of the game, it's now the moment for Goodell to sacrifice his ego and toss out the prestige. Like it or not, the NFL is stuck in much disarray, surrounded by the torture that could possibly paralyze the league. What lingers is very frightening in a way, particularly for the fans forced to likely endure the long-suffering lockout.

Logic is, fans couldn't care less who is responsible for the labor negotiations, but just want to witness football next season. And since Goodell and Smith feuds in arguments, with kickoff for the Super Bowl a week from Sunday, the lockout debates provoke conversations for what could be the worst and scariest stoppage in sports history.

If so, instead of elevating his legacy, the messy predicament ruptures Goodell's legacy and popularity. That said, if the NFL become pedestrian simply for the stoppage capable of delaying and depriving a nation of fans paranoid by football, owners will lose money once the games are cancelled, players won't be lavished with enormous paychecks or any signing bonuses and the networks will lose billions. 

And because football is such an economic remedy for mostly every community, unemployment rates will inflate as a legion of jobs such as restaurants, bars or concession stands and stores won't create many job opportunities, but will probably downsize in employment rates. The issue is, Goodell hasn't taken none of this into consideration and still is inactive, unwilling to request more money to players, but in the meantime, owners are discontent in spending ridiculously on players and would like to spend less on their star players.

Either way, in the end, one of the sides have to compromise and, if so, it reduces the turmoil if Goodell takes command in his attempt to save the NFL from any financial collapses or fiascoes. These days, for sports of course, there's no national holiday greater than the Super Bowl, an event that takes place on usually the first Sunday in February, a moment in the season when people host a large-size party to come together collectively and feast on junk food as they rest near the television with their eyes glued to the world's biggest game, rooting on the favorites and catching an emotional high.

Now, just imagine if there's no Super Bowl in the near future, or nothing to relish on Monday nights. If this happens, in which the NFL could be labeled the self-righteous, hypocritical business with all the hysteria and turbulence that has demolished the perspective of football in America where it is ultimately a rite and has turned into a typical brand name. 

As of recently, he is comfortable with his manipulation, a strategy that worked efficiently in his favor when he created and enforced the NFL's conduct policy. But now, there's no guarantee that his plans will dominate this time, and if not, Goodell's monumental legacy is disintegrated. If the dispute is handled in court, the situation only becomes worse for the bargaining issues, including the 18-game proposal and rookie wage scale.

Goodell, even after he inserted rectitude and a strong reputation for the NFL while on the throne, is eternally in a stressful position, well, somewhat. So there was Goodell, unsure and baffled of what is ruining the league, pledging to lower his salary only if there is a work stoppage after the current collective-bargaining agreement expires in March.

In the upcoming months, abandoning the mess is hurtful, even if the two sides try to relieve the situation that has been lingering for months and counting with all the ramifications. Every last bit of, Goodell's top negotiator, Jeffrey Pash's salary will be reduced, too, if the league essentially topples in the next few weeks.

This is partly what happens if a business is mishandled or run poorly, and potentially if there's a lockout, Goodell will lose $10 million that he makes annually and Pash can lose nearly $5 million. This is the disaster of a nightmarish dispute, a pointless disagreement and it turns into an absolute joke. Every NFL franchise is worth over $1 billion, and the average player is worth $1.7 million. 

Whatever it is, it's the most distasteful war of the beginning to a repulsive lockout maybe, a standstill that can evoke an outcry.