Everything Roger Goodell Said on Replacement Refs, NFL Players in Olympics, Rooney Rule, More

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with reporters on Tuesday at the annual league meetings, which are taking place in Phoenix last week.

Here's a snapshot of Goodell's comments regarding various topics.

Replacement Referees

Goodell spoke about the possibility of replacement referees for the upcoming season in light of the ongoing labor dispute between the NFL and NFLRA, which appears ugly on the surface right now.

Goodell Responds to Florida AG Demand to Suspend Rooney Rule

Florida attorney general James Uthmeier wrote a letter to commissioner Roger Goodell demanding that the Rooney Rule no longer be enforced and that "failure to provide such confirmation may result in a civil rights enforcement action." Goodell spoke about the Rooney Rule Tuesday.

NFL Players' Potential Participation in Flag Football in 2028 Summer Olympics

NFL players participated in the recent three-team Fanatics Flag Football Classic, but the Team USA dominated their competition en route to the title. Still, Goodell expects NFL players to participate in the Games and thinks it's a great way to grow the sport.

Ravens Backing Out of Maxx Crosby Trade and If It Calls for Changes

The Baltimore Ravens agreed to acquire star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders once the league year began, but they backed out due to a failed physical, leading to some consternation with how Baltimore handled things. Goodell was asked whether owners had talked about anything changing in the free agency/trade process but said that hasn't been the case.

In Light of Tanking Issues in NBA, Goodell Fields Question on It for NFL

Tanking has been such a rampant issue in the NBA that commissioner Adam Silver vowed to put a stop to it once and for all. That's not a topic of discussion in the NFL so much. Goodell doesn't foresee it as an issue.

Chicago Bears' Stadium Talk/Potential of Move to Northwest Indiana

The Chicago Bears are in talks to move out of Soldier Field in Chicago, with Arlington Heights, Illinois and Hammond, Indiana the two frontrunners. Goodell noted that the team needed to find a better stadium solution given the state of Soldier Field.

NFL CBA

The current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFLPA expires in March 2031, although the two sides can mutually chat and agree to changes beforehand, including the possibility of an 18-game season. The NFLPA is about to get former NFL Center JC Tretter back as their executive director, and Goodell said the league will give him time to get acclimated again before talking about things down the line.

League meetings finished up on Tuesday. Now attention in the NFL calendar turns toward the draft, which begins April 23 in Pittsburgh.