Great word to use describing Goodell, "condescending". That's among the things I hate most about listening to that guy, I feel like he's talking to me personally when he speaks, and I'm being talked down to by some idiot with a Communications degree, who with all the right connections coming out of school couldn't accomplish anything better than an unpaid Jets internship.
And so right about the owners being able to hire whoever they want. They could attract nearly any Ivy League MBA with an accomplished career, and as you say, at half or less Goodell's salary. But they take the moron Jets intern. Why would any of the owners think they need to pay that idiot 40 + million. No one is trying to take that guy off your hands. That moron is not in any kind of demand, NONE. That guy would work for $100k a year, be happy about it, and still be overpaid.