When current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was brought into replace Paul Tagliabue, he was brought in for one specific reason – to help clean up the league’s emerging image of being a bunch of thugs. Paul Tagliabue had been either unwilling or unable to suspend or properly punish players who committed illegal or thuggish acts.   Since Goodell’s being commissioner, what is he really known for?

• Allowing a man convicted of running an illegal gambling ring to be reinstated into the league (Michael Vick)
• Allowing a convicted murderer to be reinstated in the league (Donte Stallworth)
• Allowing a player who beat his wife to be reinstated in the league – or should we say – Goodell was against banning Ray Rice before he supported banning Ray Rice. 

Right after the Chicago Black Sox scandal, Major League Baseball decided the best way to handle such incidents was to hire a commissioner, a man who would be the point for any crisis which would arise, and handle it accordingly.  We are all human and all humans fail, but if you look at Goodell’s record, it is a legacy of failure.  For a man who was brought into be a “hanging judge”, Goodell has shown himself to be a wimp when it comes to meting out just punishments when people are killed or when a man commits multiple felonies, and a guy who imposes penalties which are too severe on lesser offenses (New Orleans and “bounty gate” being the best example).  Remember that Goodell so badly mishandled “Bounty Gate” that the NFL had to bring in former commissioner Tagliabue to re-examine the punishments handed out, and Tagliabue reversed several of the suspensions handed out by Goodell. 

A commissioner’s job is in large part to read public opinion and to handle issues accordingly.  It now looks increasingly likely that Goodell either saw, or was aware of, the video of Ray Rice clocking his fiancée.  If he saw the video and only suspended Ray Rice for 2 games, then the owners have no real alternative but to sack Goodell.  If Goodell was honest in his recent interview and was aware of the tape but did not see it, then Goodell is to blame for handing down a punishment without knowing all the facts and should be fired for mishandling this investigation.  As the commissioner’s job is part trial judge, what trial judge or even hearing examiner would dare sentence someone without knowing all the relevant facts? 

Goodell is also increasingly famous for turning the NFL into the PCFL - Politically Correct Football League.  Between his allowing Washington Redskins Owner Dan Snyder to twist in the wind because Snyder (correctly) refuses to bow to political correctness and change the name of his team to suit some hucksters, or his most recent brilliant idea of trying to talk teams into signing Michael Sam (famous for being the first openly gay player to be drafted) so the NFL can look tolerant.  (For the record, I was a big fan of former Redskin TE Jerry Smith, an openly gay player who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame – so please don’t call me a homophobe, thanks).  The NFL and pro sports have always been about achievement first and foremost.  It’s why so many root for guys like Steve Largent, who was too slow, and too small to play in the NFL – all Largent ever did was have 800 catches and break several records for most catches and most touchdowns in a career.  It’s why so many of us rooted for Jerry Rice, who came from poverty without the most talent in the world, and all Rice did was break every major receiving record in the game.  Jerry Rice wasn’t the fastest player or have the best hands – Rice just worked harder than everyone else. 

I wish the same for Michael Sam.  But that achievement must be his own.  Not handed to him by a politically correct commissioner who wants to determine who is on a roster and who is not.  

It is high time for Roger Goodell to go.  Personally I’d love to see the NFL select Condi Rice.  Forgetting all the barriers she would be breaking – this was also the same woman who when as Secretary of State, just wanted to be judged on her ability and the content of her character, not the color of her skin.  The NFL could use such a person as Commissioner right about now. 

John Massoud is an occasional contributor to the American Thinker