Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

[ScoreKeeper]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Why the hell would a Steeler say "He wouldn't sign my jersey?"

That is something a punk azz player from another team would say.

I'm positive King assumed 24 Steeler players. It's a very good attempt by King to get a ton of publicity. The story is lame though... very lame.

If I am to believe that Goodell lied...which I do, then I don't care about what he uses as his excuse....such as not signing jerseys.

Why would Goodell make up a lie that can easily be refuted? I know people hate the guy but c'mon... use a little bit of common sense.

I'm sure Goodell said 24 players and King assumed he meant Steelers.

Seriously... you really think Goodell said 24 Steeler players? That is so easy to fact check it's laughable. Much harder to figure out who the 24 players in the league are.

Goodell asking 24 players and telling King about it is bad enough...

assuming he lied and really said it was 24 Steelers just shows how stupid fans are. It's already a bad story.... no need to take it all the way to the edge with some stupid theory that Goodell really said 24 Steelers and lied about the whole thing to give King a great story.

King could have easily fact checked the 24 players.

But it's even worse if he was asking players outside the Steelers how they felt. What, did he go to to TO and CJ....maybe the stains or the rats...JHC, this is supposed to be a commish conducting business....not some f u ckwad working for TMZ.

He needs to to be fired for gross incompetence.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Teammates rebuff Goodell's claims no one defended Ben

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, February 1, 2011


FORT WORTH, Texas — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's claim that Ben Roethlisberger's teammates didn't support him following a tumultuous offseason is news to them.

"That's baloney," inside linebacker James Farrior said yesterday after the Steelers arrived in North Texas for Super Bowl XLV. "All of the guys in the locker room love Ben. No matter what people say, how people think we feel about Ben, we love the guy."

The Steelers' franchise quarterback may be a lightning rod for the media this week, but Goodell sparked the first real controversy of Super Bowl XLV.

Goodell, who visited Steelers training camp Aug. 5, told Sports Illustrated's Peter King that he talked to more than 20 of Roethlisberger's teammates during the offseason.

"Not one, not a single player, went to his defense," Goodell said in a story on SI's website yesterday. "It wasn't personal in a sense, but all kinds of stories like, 'He won't sign my jersey.' "

Sports Illustrated issued a clarification late Monday night and said Goodell was referring to NFL players — and not Roethlisberger's Steelers teammates specifically — when the commissioner said nobody came to Roethlisberger's defense.

Goodell suspended Roethlisberger for six games in April after the quarterback was accused of sexual assault. Goodell reduced the suspension to four games while lauding the changes Roethlisberger had made off the field.

Goodell's remarks caught the Steelers by surprise.

"I'm just thankful that my teammates are who they are, and I'm really appreciative of it," Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger's teammates rushed to his defense during the first media availability here.

Wide receiver Hines Ward said he didn't recall talking to Goodell about Roethlisberger.

Farrior said when Goodell met with the Steelers during training camp, he pressed the commissioner about Roethlisberger's suspension.

"I really didn't want to talk about anything else but the suspension," said Farrior, whom coach Mike Tomlin recently called the unquestioned leader of the Steelers. "He tried to get off the subject and really didn't give us any answers that we were looking for."

The Steelers have been supportive of Roethlisberger's efforts to right the wrongs that could have brought down his career in Pittsburgh.

In April, director of football operations Kevin Colbert said that the team didn't condone Roethlisberger's behavior but believed he deserved the chance to redeem himself.

"I'm not surprised by his success on the field nor his behavior off the field since that time," Colbert said yesterday.

Colbert said that the Steelers never tried to trade Roethlisberger after he was accused of sexual assault twice in a nine-month span.

Colbert said trade talk leading up to the NFL draft is standard operating procedure as the Steelers gauge interest other teams have of moving up or down in the first round.

"We never shopped anybody during that period," Colbert said, disputing reports that had indicated otherwise.

Goodell's comments to SI put him at odds with the Steelers for the second time this season.

His crackdown on dangerous hits led to outside linebacker James Harrison getting fined four times in 2010. And Steelers players questioned whether the league was targeting them and the team's style of play while making player safety a priority.

They seemed just as miffed about why Goodell appeared to be targeting Roethlisberger at the start of a weeklong NFL celebration.

In addition to saying the Steelers players had not come to Roethlisberger's defense, Goodell said he had no personal connection to the two-time Super Bowl winner.

"I don't know what he means by 'come to his defense,' " Tomlin said. "Ben is a highly respected member of our football team not only because of what he's done this year but just his body of work and the person that he is.

"We all fall short of perfection, we all make mistakes. He's doing the best that he can in terms of moving forward with it, as are his teammates."

Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, perhaps Roethlisberger's closest friend on the team, said, "I've always had Ben's back. I think everyone was behind him. Everyone just didn't really know how to respond to all the questions and all the scrutiny."

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1CkGtIxsm"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...#ixzz1CkGtIxsm[/url]

[grotonsteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Why the hell would a Steeler say "He wouldn't sign my jersey?"

That is something a punk azz player from another team would say.

I'm positive King assumed 24 Steeler players. It's a very good attempt by King to get a ton of publicity. The story is lame though... very lame.

If I am to believe that Goodell lied...which I do, then I don't care about what he uses as his excuse....such as not signing jerseys.

Why would Goodell make up a lie that can easily be refuted? I know people hate the guy but c'mon... use a little bit of common sense.

I'm sure Goodell said 24 players and King assumed he meant Steelers.

Seriously... you really think Goodell said 24 Steeler players? That is so easy to fact check it's laughable. Much harder to figure out who the 24 players in the league are.

Goodell asking 24 players and telling King about it is bad enough...

assuming he lied and really said it was 24 Steelers just shows how stupid fans are. It's already a bad story.... no need to take it all the way to the edge with some stupid theory that Goodell really said 24 Steelers and lied about the whole thing to give King a great story.

King could have easily fact checked the 24 players.

But it's even worse if he was asking players outside the Steelers how they felt. What, did he go to to TO and CJ....maybe the stains or the rats...JHC, this is supposed to be a commish conducting business....not some f u ckwad working for TMZ.

He needs to to be fired for gross incompetence.

well said....

[Crash]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Can you believe this guy?

In what may be the most unreal consequence of the players’ health insurance running out in the event of a lockout, there are pregnant players’ wives asking Fujita if they should induce labor before the lockout. When Goodell was given these concerns months ago by the players, his response was, “Well, you’ll want to get something done (in the CBA) then, won’t you?”

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdow....urn=nfl-306224"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdo ... nfl-306224[/url]

[Flasteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

The crying, whining, and continued conspiracy babble coming from this board is pathetic.

Sack up people.

and I had a feeling there would be a clarification... this is SB week and King needs hits, clicks and controversy does it.

Crying and whining? Goodell rehashed this stuff, not us. What a pompus thing to say Fla. It's news because the BIGGEST NAME IN THE NFL said very stupid things. No fans did at all.

The only mention of anything about fines to players was in an article, not by fans.

Go back to your "I'm better than you because I don't say anything" world.

You're going to be like THAT DJ? I gotta say that I'm more than a little shocked you'd try to throw down on me like that, but it's cool. If you think that my comments are born from some sense of arrogance or holier-than-thou attitude, you're simply off base...really off base.

My comments are born of the disdain I have for all of the crying and whining that goes on here, over any perceived slight to our team. Not only is it lame, it feeds the kooks who swear that the refs and Goodell are out to get us at all costs.

I agree that Goodell is doing a horrible job as commissioner of the NFL. He’s sucked at pretty much everything he’s tried to do and he completely mishandled Ben’s situation as well as the controversies surrounding the defensive fines and penalties this year. But for the love of God, quit being little bitches about all of this. The commish never should have opened his mouth about this to a reporter. Said reporter should be called out for unleashing this stuff during Super Bowl week, even though his job pretty much calls for it. Yeah, yeah yeah…we get it.

I’m not admonishing any discussion of the subject, I’m just sick and tired of all you guys who go around claiming outlandish crap and use anything you can get your hands on to use as “proof” that you’ve been right all along. Shut it already.

...and man-up while you're at it.

[Djfan]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

You have been a great poster and very respected by me for a long time. In reality that hasn't changed for me. The post was condescending IMO.

Not one of us started this. It's goodell and SI. We responded to a legit situation.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Steelers' Rooney defends Goodell on Roethlisberger quote

Tuesday, February 01, 2011
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


ARLINGTON, Texas -- Steelers president Art Rooney said he talked with Roger Goodell this morning and does not blame the NFL commissioner for any wrongdoing for his infamous quote about Ben Roethlisberger that was published this week.

"From what I understand, he was misquoted,'' Rooney said. "I certainly don't think he was intending on it for something to be published this week."

Goodell toward Peter King of Sports Illustrated that during his investigation into the charges of sexual assault made against Roethlisberger in March that, "I bet two dozen [Steeler] players ... Not one, not a single player, went to his defense. It wasn't personal in a sense, but all kinds of stories like, 'He won't sign my jersey.' ''

King later reported that he had assumed Goodell meant Steelers players and inserted the brackets. Goodell told King on Monday that he did not. The interview took place Jan. 7 but was published Monday.

"I talked to the commissioner this morning and that's what he said, that it wasn't something he expected to be said this week,'' Rooney said. "And he was asked about all the things he did and was trying to get some background on how he approaches his decisions.

"It wasn't like he was trying to take a shot at Ben or anything like that. He was talking about sort of what his thought process went on nine months ago."

Rooney did not think it would have an effect on the Steelers players this week.

"You know what, I think for Ben and our players, that's all kind of ancient history at this point. I think they'll all have to answer questions today but I don't think it will be a distraction. They're expecting to get a couple of questions, there's no surprise to it."

Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11032/1122178-66.stm#ixzz1CkaZr4Sw"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11032/11 ... z1CkaZr4Sw[/url]

[Crash]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Atta boy Art, keep bending over for Goodell.

[Flasteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

^^ Exhibit A ^^

[Djfan]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

^^Exhibit A^^

I understand that. But, the actions of one or two posters doesn't justify throwing everyone under the bus.

Sorry if I pissed you off. I was annoyed. I'm also not him, or the other twin.

Still, there is a small grain of truth in what he just said. Mostly the spin to cover Goodell's worthless butt. Not the first time Rooney has done that.

[Crash]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Hopefully Dan Rooney will return to an increased role with the Steelers once his term as Ambassador ends.

Dan wouldn't let Goodell crap all over his team like Art II does.

[Flasteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

You have been a great poster and very respected by me for a long time. In reality that hasn't changed for me. The post was condescending IMO.

Not one of us started this. It's goodell and SI. We responded to a legit situation.

It's a shared sentiment DJ, and that's why I'm a little shocked, but like I stated...it's cool. I have zero idea how you could think the post was condescending. There's too much whining and bitching going on over Goodell, the refs, and the evil people who are out to destroy us. This entire thread is an example of it. The board erupts into a frenzy over something they believe is evidence that Goodell is out to get Ben. Turns out, everyone was wrong and it's nothing more than 2 individuals operating far below the expected competency levels for their positions...especially King.


Some of you may have simply questioned the appropriateness or accuracy of Goodell's statements. Some of you may have just been ragging on King or (wrongfully) the Commissioner for the timing of the article. What I read was far too many people thinking this was a personal attack on our team or against Ben...further propogation of the conspiracy theories.

I wanted to say something about it and I did. I will do it again if necessary.

[Djfan]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

You have been a great poster and very respected by me for a long time. In reality that hasn't changed for me. The post was condescending IMO.

Not one of us started this. It's goodell and SI. We responded to a legit situation.

It's a shared sentiment DJ, and that's why I'm a little shocked, but like I stated...it's cool. I have zero idea how you could think the post was condescending. There's too much whining and bitching going on over Goodell, the refs, and the evil people who are out to destroy us. This entire thread is an example of it. The board erupts into a frenzy over something they believe is evidence that Goodell is out to get Ben. Turns out, everyone was wrong and it's nothing more than 2 individuals operating far below the expected competency levels for their positions...especially King.


Some of you may have simply questioned the appropriateness or accuracy of Goodell's statements. Some of you may have just been ragging on King or (wrongfully) the Commissioner for the timing of the article. What I read was far too many people thinking this was a personal attack on our team or against Ben...further propogation of the conspiracy theories.

I wanted to say something about it and I did. I will do it again if necessary.

Nice post.

We now resume our regularly scheduled awesomeness.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

Check That: Roger Goodell Is a Lousy Politician, Too

Posted on February 1, 2011 by ryan


In the past, on several occasions, I have referred to Roger Goodell as a good politician but a lousy NFL Commissioner. Turns out, he’s not much of a politician, either.

Charged with convincing fans that the 18-game schedule is something we want*, and that safety is among the league’s top priorities, Goodell’s actions don’t match his words.

It’s not a perfect analogy, but work with me: in many ways, Goodell is like George W. Bush. The main difference, as best I can tell, is that while Bush was widely considered a failure at governing (like Goodell), his PR machine was unrivaled at getting out the message faster and louder than the opposition.

Goodell and the NFL, on the other hand, are currently losing the public-relations battle, and it’s not like DeMaurice Smith has some Rovian media strategy. Just the opposite, it seems. I have no idea if Smith is good at his job, but when you boil it down, Owners vs. Players is basically a political campaign. And when it comes to getting the message out, Smith has been unimpressive. Thankfully for the union, just not as unimpressive as his counterpart. Goodell’s words and actions paint him as an out-of-touch, greedy, rich guy trying to get richer on the backs of the players.

Let’s be honest: as Peter King has written previously, this is a fight between billionaires and millionaires. It’s not health care reform; lives won’t hang in the balance if a new labor deal isn’t struck by March 4. But that’s not the point. It’s about there being no football next fall because of avarice. And right now, the fans appear to support the players.

I wonder if the owners are at all troubled by this. I would have to think that they are since Goodell’s principal job is to sell us on the value of change. As it stands, I’m not sure how he could do a worse job of that.

Luckily, Goodell has the media in his back pocket, most notably Peter King, who announced Monday that he will have a 7,000-word story in Friday’s Sports Illustrated genuflecting in the commissioner’s direction for his relentlessness and hard work. If Monday Morning Quarterback was a preview, it will be a one-sided PR piece akin to a pre-election political commercial but without the “Candidate X endorses this message” disclaimer.

(Also worth noting: hard work doesn’t equate to being good at your job. No idea how that’s not obvious.)

But fans aren’t stupid (most of them, anyway). When Goodell calls out Ben Roethlisberger and Donte’ Stallworth months after they had served their punishments (and by all accounts, stayed out of trouble), it raises questions about the commissioner’s ability to competently perform his duties. In the middle of what amounts to a political campaign, what good can come of speaking publicly on player punishments? If the plan was to have it backfire in the NFL’s face … well, mission accomplished. (All that’s missing is to have Goodell standing on an aircraft carrier announcing the NFL has won.)

And backfired it has. Peter King had to issue a correction regarding Goodell’s comments that Steelers teammates did not support Roethlisberger this summer. And in hours since the correction, it’s been open season on the NFL. During NFL Network’s Media Day telecast, Deion Sanders offered this frank assessment: “Isn’t it something that Commissioner Goodell can tell Peter King, ‘Look here man, you better get this right.’”

King got the quote right but Goodell still looks like a schmuck. But he had to know this would happen, right? If not, god help us all. Because then we’re dealing with someone so out of their depth that they’re liable to do anything. A loose cannon, making decisions on a whim, with no interest in the long-term ramifications.

Lessening Goodell’s credibility: players — most notably on the Steelers — speaking out. Hines Ward has been beating this drum all season and in a recent interview with GQ he didn’t mince words: “To say the league really cares? They don’t give a f*ck about concussions. And now they want to add on two extra games? Are you kidding? Come on, let’s be real.” (That entire article is an indictment against what the NFL is trying to do. In terms of spin, the players accomplished more in a few hundred words than Goodell has been able to manage in months of gum-flapping.)

[url="http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/check-roger-goodell-lousy-politician/#more-4069"]http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/c ... #more-4069[/url]

[Flasteel]

Re: Goodell's Comments On Ben and Teammates

You have been a great poster and very respected by me for a long time. In reality that hasn't changed for me. The post was condescending IMO.

Not one of us started this. It's goodell and SI. We responded to a legit situation.

It's a shared sentiment DJ, and that's why I'm a little shocked, but like I stated...it's cool. I have zero idea how you could think the post was condescending. There's too much whining and bitching going on over Goodell, the refs, and the evil people who are out to destroy us. This entire thread is an example of it. The board erupts into a frenzy over something they believe is evidence that Goodell is out to get Ben. Turns out, everyone was wrong and it's nothing more than 2 individuals operating far below the expected competency levels for their positions...especially King.


Some of you may have simply questioned the appropriateness or accuracy of Goodell's statements. Some of you may have just been ragging on King or (wrongfully) the Commissioner for the timing of the article. What I read was far too many people thinking this was a personal attack on our team or against Ben...further propogation of the conspiracy theories.

I wanted to say something about it and I did. I will do it again if necessary.

Nice post.

We now resume our regularly scheduled awesomeness.

...and allow me to clarify on Crash. Despite the fact that I believe he's a certified, tin foil hat-wearing kook, I have a ton of respect for him. The dude is a highly intelligent machine and I'm appreciative he spices things up for us from time to time.