Goodell probably takes this as a sign that he's doing a good job.
He has three constituencies that matter to him:
1) The 32 Owners who employ him. Even here, there are probably only about a half dozen who really matter (Jones, Kraft, Laurie, the Mara's, the Rooney's and a couple of others plus maybe Ralph Wilson, Jr., and the Hunt family for old times sake). My guess is that he's aces with nearly all of them except NO. I'm sure there are plenty of disagreements, but they're "handled" behind the scenes before they become issues.
2) The growth of the game, as measured by TV ratings, ancillary sales and fan enthusiasm. However much we fans ***** about Goodell, we are still watching the games (and in growing numbers) and buy gear faster than Chinese workers can make it. The kids' programs ("Play 60" or whatever it's called) are going strong and the SB will, once again, be a major cultural and media event. Whether we like it or not, that's pretty much how he thinks of us.
3) NFLPA. Here his job isn't to be "liked" but to have a decent working relationship and avoid the loss of game day revenue; he got through a contentious Labor Negotiation (with the help of one of his loyal owners) with some bruised feelings, but a 20 game season. I think you can bet that he will take even more steps designed to improve "on field" safety. He really doesn't give a flying **** that these moves will have fans who have never gotten closer to an NFL field than the first row of seats complaining that he's turning the game into "two hand touch." A few players might complain about the new rules, but he'll view them as the same guys who will be suing the NFL in ten years because he didn't do enough. He's probably pleased that his support is even around 40%. After Bountygate and a record year of fines, he might have expected it to be even lower.
None of this has anything to do with my personal view of Goodell, which is that he is a classic example of the Peter Principle and of what happens when a staff guy gets "the big job." But, I still watch the games and the commercials that sell the beer and the cars, so my opinion is irrelevant to him.
