NFL owners want Goodell to have smaller role in discipline

Some NFL owners urged commissioner Roger Goodell to take a much less substantial role in the discipline of players, according to CBS Sports.

The league’s personal conduct policy was a significant topic of discussion in last week’s NFL owner meetings. Goodell reportedly has reached out to the NFLPA as he seeks to restructure the policy and how it gets enforced.

Several owners praised Goodell for his overall work performance but asked him to delegate much of the disciplinary decisions to others. The commissioner has been the subject of controversy in how he handled the Ray Rice suspension. Other cases, including the discipline of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson over allegations of child abuse, have also led to scrutiny of the league.

Other owners believe that Goodell has so many other areas on which to focus — including the Los Angeles market, concussion litigation and collusion claims — that he should not be expected to micromanage every player disciplinary issue.

ESPN reported that NFLPA attorneys want to talk to Goodell as a potential witness in Rice’s appeal, but NFL attorneys declined the request.

Goodell reportedly will not testify in the appeal case unless the judge orders him. League attorneys want to avoid a Rice vs. Goodell situation.