Tuesday 22 August 2017 17:12, UK
Commissioner Roger Goodell is on track to maintain his prominent place at the table for the next round of collective bargaining between NFL owners and players, a process that's sure to be contentious.
The league is working on a five-year contract extension for Goodell, whose contract is up after the 2019 season. The new deal would go through 2024. The current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2020 season.
Goodell replaced Paul Tagliabue as commissioner in 2006. He earned just over $31m for the 2015 season, down from about $34m in 2014. Because the league office is no longer classified as a tax-exempt organization, the commissioner's salary is no longer required to be made public through tax filings. In 2013, he made $35m. In 2012, he collected $44.2m.
Though TV ratings were down 8 per cent last year and concerns about concussions have not subsided, NFL revenues have been steadily on the rise during Goodell's tenure, $13 billion at last report. New stadiums, with significant public contributions, have continued to open across the league.
Though conflict has surfaced at times with individual owners, notably New England's Bob Kraft in response to discipline for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the deflated footballs scandal, Goodell has clearly overseen enough success to gain the trust of the clubs.
The move toward this extension signalled as much. There's another labour feud looming, with the potential for a lockout or a strike in 2021, so the owners will need faith in their leadership.
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The regular season of home and away matches run from September to December 2017, culminating in PlayOffs from January 6, 2018 and the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota to determine the world champion.
