Roger Goodell Seeks to Preserve Integrity of the Game

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell circulated a memo to all 32 NFL teams stating that "it was time to preserve the competitive integrity of the game".

How can Goodell keep a straight face while stressing "integrity" when it was his office that destroyed the evidence it discovered in a very brief investigation of the one team that was caught cheating during a game?

By the way, one of the biggest proponents of putting a radio device inside a defender's helmet, which is something the owners will be voting on this week, has been Bill Belichick. So by defying NFL rules and pointing a camera at the Jets sidelines last year, Belichick and the Patriots likely pushed enough holdouts to the other side and he'll get his way.

Who said cheaters never prosper?

I admit that I'm not the least bit impressed by Goodell's performance as commissioner to date. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if his run as commissioner winds up being one of the shortest tenures in NFL commissioner history.

Why do I think that? He's bumbled just about every single decision hes had to make thus far, which doesn't bode well considering the league is going to face labor strife, possibly even a strike, before the 2010 season.

NFL News and Notes

The Dallas Cowboys could expect the contract for the naming rights on their new stadium to exceed the 20-year, $400 million contracts buildings like the Barclays Center (New Jersey Nets) and Citi Field (New York Mets) received.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is playing golf and having fun.

New Green Bay Packers president Matt Murphy is ready for his first owner's meeting.

St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little is confident his surgically reconstructed left big toe won't slow him down in 2008.

The Buffalo Bills need more than a tall wide receiver and a tight end in next month's draft.

Dave Hutchinson of The Star Ledger thinks that because the New York Jets signed Calvin Pace, they'll trade down instead of selecting Ohio State linebacker Vernon Gholston.

Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark, who had his spleen and gall bladder removed last year, is back working out at the Steelers practice facility.

Baltimore Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden said he'll likely have a decision about retirement before next month's NFL Draft.

The Indianapolis Colts' off-season conditioning program gets underway tomorrow.

Currently suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones said last night that his days as a Titan are over with. He also signed an autograph using the number "21" (he wore #32 for the Titans), which he thinks Deion Sanders would be fine with him using if he becomes a Dallas Cowboy.