Just in case you thought 2017 couldn’t get any worse, what with the hurricanes, threats of nuclear Armageddon and the President of the United States tongue kissing a Nazi under a Confederate Flag while a Russian hooker showers them both with piss, you were wrong. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is getting a five year contract extension from the league he’s almost single-handedly tried to ruin for the last decade and a half.
https://twitter.com/OnlyInBOS/status/899647294135345152
Goodell has plenty of reasons to keep the job, about $35 million a year on average. It could be more than that. The sorry bastard apparently hauled in $44.2 million in 2012.
Under Goodell’s current deal we were already stuck with his puffy, jowly face through the 2019 season. If this deal goes through, and of course it will because Satan openly strides the Earth, Goodell will be locked in and shitting all over the sport we love until 2024. Jesus.
How bad is going to get under Goodell for the next seven (GOD!) years? How about another player lockout? The current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2021 and the players are ready to seriously renegotiate. The main reason? Goodell has abused pretty much all the powers they surrendered to him in the last deal. That’s going to be the whole issue threatening a 2022 season?
https://twitter.com/23gr8testever/status/901561149287747584
In addition, it looks like the specter of an 18-game regular season is on the horizon again, something that’s simply insane for a league already dealing with multiple issues surrounding player safety and future well-being. Adding two more games, plus the playoffs, is just asking for trouble. But Goodell is a money-grubbing moron, so it’s back on the table.
There’s rumblings of an issue with player guaranteed contracts too. If there is a lockout, it doesn’t look like it will be as easily resolved as the last one and with Goodell leading the way you can pretty much guarantee it’ll be a shitstorm. This is a nightmare. 2017, you already suck so hard.
Tom Brady on @KirkAndCallahan asked thoughts of Roger Goodell reportedly getting contract extension: "Nope. I don't have any thoughts."
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) August 21, 2017
Goodell is, unquestionably, the worst commissioner in the history of the NFL (there have been only three) and one of the worst in the history of professional sports. Why not just the worst? Because there have been plenty of shitty commissioners for the MLB, the NHL and the NBA over the years. Frankly, being a complete sociopathic doofus seems to be a prerequisite of the job.
Catching up on NFL news
As football season gears up and I’m covering high school and college ball while preparing my NFL previews, news can just get away from me. Here’s some of the stuff I missed this week.
Former Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard has been named a contributor finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame class of 2018. Under Beathard, the Redskins went 105-63 from 1978-1988 and won two Super Bowls. He was with the Chargers for 11 seasons and helped build the roster that got them to one Super Bowl in 1994.
BREAKING: longtime GM/personnel administrator Bobby Beathard named contributor finalist for #PFHOF18 @Redskins @Chargers @MiamiDolphins
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) August 25, 2017
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will personally appear at his appeal hearing for the six game suspension the NFL levied on him for some pretty unconvincing domestic violence evidence. He was never charged or arrested. If Elliott doesn’t get the entire suspension thrown out on this appeal (and he should), don’t be surprised to see this one go to court.
The New Orleans Saints cut linebacker Dannell Ellerbe from their injured reserve list. Ellerbe has spent most of the last three seasons injured and appeared in just 15 of a possible 48 games. Last season Ellerbe started eight games for the Saints and played in nine, recording 44 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles.
Saints release LB Dannell Ellerbe.
Dolphins and WR Stills winning.
— Mike Hernandez (@MikeHernandezDD) August 26, 2017
Green Bay Packers left tackle Bryan Bulaga injured his ankle in practice this week and is not expected to require surgery to repair it. He may end up missing the team’s season opening game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver and return specialist Ryan Switzer is expected to miss this weekend’s preseaosn game with a hamstring injury. The Cowboys drafted Switzer in the fourth round of April’s NFL Draft out of UNC.
Cooper Rush to Ryan Switzer pic.twitter.com/rAzquM4YNE
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) August 22, 2017
The Tennessee Titans expect to hold running back DeMarco Murray and wide receivers Eric Decker and Harry Douglas out of action Sunday. Murray has a hamstring issue, Decker is dealing with an ankle and Douglas has a minor knee injury.
Here’s a shocker (is there a sarcasm font?), San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward will be held out of Sunday’s preseason game after just coming off the team’s physically unable to perform list. Ward has had health issues since the 49ers drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Northern Illinois. Last season Ward started 10 games and played in 11, recording 53 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 12 passes defended and a pick. If he could ever stay on the field, he’d be an elite player.
https://twitter.com/eric_crocker/status/899298171343446017
The 49ers signed free agent defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks this week to a one-year deal. Marks has been in the league since 2009 and was a second round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans. Marks has spent the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He started one game last year and played in all 16, recording 24 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and one pass defense.
Houston Texans wide receiver Jaelen Strong has been suspended for one game by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He appealed the suspension and was denied. It stems from a Feb. 2016 arrest for marijuana possession in Scottsdale, Ariz. Strong started two games last seaoson and played in eight, recording 14 catches for 131 yards and no touchdowns.
#Texan WR Jaelen Strong is suspended for the first game of 2017 for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2017
The New York Jets have ruled out rookie tight end Jordan Leggett, tight end Jason Vander Laan and Lorenzo Mauldin from playing in Saturday’s preseason game. Leggett has a foot injury, Mauldin a back injury and Vander Laan a shoulder injury.
Cooper Kupp will not suit up for the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night with a groin injury. Kupp has been outstanding in the preseason and already developed into a key third down option for the team. With Kupp out, fellow rookie Josh Reynolds should see more time with the first unit.
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