Is this is a new position within the NFL (not a back-fill)? If it is a brand new position this is interesting given the deflategate hearing happened less than a week ago.
After the Brady hearing I assume Rodger's legal team gave him a briefing that included worst case scenarios: What options does Brady have to get this case into federal court, what are the chances of success for Brady on these options, what would be the ramifications/exposure for him and the league office if Brady wins on the various options.
On a side note: I'd be curios to know if his legal team pointed out the various potentials for 'Bad Faith'? Could his own public statements demonstrate bias? Could this legally be considered 'Bad Faith' to demonstrate bias against Brady only to then say, in effect, I am not biased and I will hear your "appeal"?
So how does Goodell avoid getting into Deflategate and Ray Rice entanglements in the future? Easy, he needs layers on his org chart. He needs the Vincent's, this new 'investigatory' position, maybe eventually a drug enforcement manager. He needs others to decide/execute/be the face of these individual league affairs (can a 'League Press Secretary' be too far off?) . Sure, Rodger will remain the puppet master behind the scenes but to the media/outside world he will only be seen/heard when a proceeding has been vetted as fully plausible, has been run by PR and legal, is carefully crafted, it is the right timing -- the top dog will only bark when he has a lot of insulation in place to repel any blowback. Bottom line, he now will appear to truly be the guy that can hear appeals without bias because he was never involved with the proceedings. 'Layer X' ran the show -- he is now hear to make sure it was "fair". And if there is blowback (think Ray Rice), he has a built in scapegoat/fall guy.
This job descriptions should read: Needed, a managerial layer to insulate the commissioner, keep his hands from looking dirty, help consolidate his power, take the fall when things go south.