I guess it certainly sounds like a demotion of sorts but the league is standing behind the investigation he started and he's probably not taking a pay cut. Getting him out of the country at least part-time to make sure there's grass and locker rooms - real senior level management stuff, you know, for an international series of games the NFL has been putting on for years without him. Sounds almost like a favor for a job well done.
I can imagine the demotion:
"Look Mike, I know you don't like it but you are GOING to go to these foreign countries AT NO EXPENSE TO YOURSELF and find out if radios work there. We just don't know. Of course you'll have fully staffed offices and executive housing in each location, as well as a team of 3-5 people to travel with that you can select yourself. Due to the travel increases and hardship on your family, we're thinking a salary increase of 25% sounds fair."