Note from Roger Goodell - New England Patriots Forums

Avenger · 09-28-2012, 09:44 AM

Just got this in my EMail

Quote:

To NFL Fans:

The National Football League is at its best when the focus is on the players and the action on the field, not on labor negotiations.

All of us who love the sport appreciate the skills and dedication of the players and coaches. That is why we are focused not just on what happens on the field but what our game will be like in another decade or two. The NFL has always tried to look ahead, to innovate, and to constantly improve in all we do.

We recognize that some decisions may be difficult to accept in the passion of the moment, but my most important responsibility is to improve the game for this generation and the next.

I believe in accountability, not excuses. And I regret we were not able to secure an agreement sooner in the process and avoid the unfortunate distractions to the game. You deserve better.

As a lifelong fan, this wasn't an easy process for anyone involved. I particularly want to commend the replacement officials for taking on an unenviable task and doing it with focus and dedication in the most adverse of circumstances.

Our new agreement gives long-term stability to an important aspect of our game, officiating. More important, with this agreement, officiating will be better in the long run. While the financial issues received the most attention, these negotiations were much more about long-term reforms. For example, beginning with the 2013 season, the NFL will have the option of hiring a number of officials on a full-time basis to work year-round, including on the field. In addition, the NFL will have the option to retain additional officials for training and development purposes, and may assign those additional officials to work NFL games.

We are moving forward with the finest officials in sports back on the field. It's time to put the focus where it belongs – on the clubs and players and our magnificent game, with a special thanks to our fans for their passion.

Roger Goodell

Armchair Quarterback · 09-28-2012, 09:54 AM

He can shove it.

PATRIOTSFANINPA · 09-28-2012, 10:05 AM

Translation........

I was getting so fu(king scared with these increasing death threats that kept flooding my inbox and mailbox that I feared for my life,so I had no other choice but to open the NFLs wallet a little wider and satisfy those greedy hungry bastard zebras you guys all wanted back.

Are you all fu(king satisfied now?...I feel safer for my health and can fire that security guard that shadowed my every movement

Avenger · 09-28-2012, 10:37 AM

I understand the long term reforms and agree with them, I just feel that they should have gotten the Refs in for the start of the season by giving them what they wanted monetarily in exchange for the reforms, letting them keep the pensions and giving them a pay bump.

Fball · 09-28-2012, 10:42 AM

This won't be a popular position, but Goodell got way too much of the blame here. First, he has sort of been at the mercy of the owners, and anyone could see by that post-Monday night interview w/ Jerry Jones what that must have been like.

Second, this wasn't a money thing or an NFL thing, as much as it was an effort to improve the officiating long-term. The stipulations that the NFL wanted on that front were not, imo, unreasonable. It's the same things we see in education, where the unions demand tenure, but schools want the ability to get rid of bad teachers.

They took a gamble w/ the replacement refs & it failed, but I think their intent was in the right place.

***Deus Irae*** · 09-28-2012, 10:48 AM

Goodell could have resigned in protest, or he could have at least come out publicly against what was going on. Instead, he carried the owners' water.

He's a clown.

***DarrylS*** · 09-28-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avenger

Just got this in my EMail

Somehow this part of the quote got edited in your version...

Quote:

As a lifelong Jets fan, as I bleed green, this wasn't an easy process for anyone involved. I particularly want to commend the replacement officials for taking on an unenviable task and doing it with focus and dedication in the most adverse of circumstances, even though they ****ed up incredibly. This is not anywhere as bad as cameragate, bountygate or that rotten baztard Belichick attacking and beating up officials..

Did you notice none of those whiny veterans and their so called injuries made any noise when this was going on?? That is the way it should be, perhaps they will just go away and be thankful for what they have.

Sicilian · 09-28-2012, 10:59 AM

I don't like the man, but it sounds like the two sides came to a mutually beneficial agreement, and the fact that they couldn't do that sooner is not the fault of one side of the other. They were both stubborn and decided to play their leverage. In the end, despite the league losing the public relations battle, they still somehow got a better deal for themselves. I just think this is how things are handled in the modern sports era, get used to it.

***Gwedd*** · 09-28-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Goodell could have resigned in protest, or he could have at least come out publicly against what was going on. Instead, he carried the owners' water.

He's a clown.

Agreed. Goodell can go pound sand. I will never have any respect for him. He showed his true colors with his tyrannical ruling regarding "spygate".

He needs to resign and be replaced with someone with extensive CEO experience who is NOT from the NFL ranks.

PATRIOTSFANINPA · 09-28-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sicilian

I don't like the man, but it sounds like the two sides came to a mutually beneficial agreement, and the fact that they couldn't do that sooner is not the fault of one side of the other. They were both stubborn and decided to play their leverage. In the end, despite the league losing the public relations battle, they still somehow got a better deal for themselves. I just think this is how things are handled in the modern sports era, get used to it.

I am not so sure its as clear cut as that.

The NFL,a multi billion dollar industry did NOT care about protecting the shield and its integrity and could not have cared less about its fans or employees (coaches,players) UNTIL something like the GB/Seattle call came up for controversy.

The NFL never would have budged on the agreement until one of two things happened.....

The Referees caved in and gave up their demands

There was going to be situation that the replacement refs would be 100% the fault of a team directly losing and thereby causing a near riot throughout the football land

In other words it was either going to be the regular refs giving up or a team was going to be screwed at the very end of a game by a dumb call....it was going to be one or the other.

Without the GB/Seattle finish there should absolutely be no doubt that the keystone cop refs would still be calling the shots this weekend and would have been for a long time.

But its too late for the real refs now,the season is already damaged and the new refs are only putting a bandaid on a cut that bled too long
....the 2012 Super bowl winner should have an asterisk after its name because too many plays in the first 3 weeks changed the entire course of the season.