NFL Notes: Roger Goodell, Greg Hardy, Falcons & Jets

Roger Goodell

Jason La Canfora reports that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell “isn’t going anywhere” even after the league’s latest defeat in court.

However, La Canfora mentions that changes are already being made in the league office, and it’s only a matter of time before even more moves are made.

“Make no mistake, a gradual changing of the guard has been underway and this should only intensify it,” La Canfora writes. “Goodell isn’t going anywhere. This stare-down with the most influential owner in the NFL indicates as much. But the pressure on him to alter the make-up of those around him will only increase after the events of this week.”

Greg Hardy

• Jason Cole of B/R reports that Cowboys DE Greg Hardy‘s preference has been to not go to court over his four-game suspension, and would instead have the issue go away.
• However, the NFLPA reportedly wants to fight suspension in court.

Falcons

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff explained their thinking when they made the trade all the way up to No. 6 overall to draft Julio Jones.

“Sometimes in the NFL you have to be aggressive. Other times, people are going to question you on it. I think that, and this is a big discussion point, usually team-builders have a very good idea of what’s in store for their team and what the team is about,” Dimitroff said during an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I was happy to have a whole bunch of very talented people who were helping in the process and (we) were able to pull a player (off the board) who is one of the most talented players in the league.”

Dimitroff also explained why they worked to get a long-term extension in place with Jones before the start of the season.

“I think the important thing is that we were very cognizant that there was a potential market to be set by both of those receivers (Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas). They are both at the top of their games and incredibly talented. We thought that would help set a market for us, so that we can have a cool starting point and a point where we could work around. It wasn’t long and drawn out. There were a number of things that we talked about. I thought it was going to be a fairly easy deal from the very beginning. It seemed like it took a little bit longer than we had planned. But that was because of no one’s fault. It was about working through some minor elements of it: some language issues and timing issues of it all. But, again, we knew where the market was and I think everyone believes that we are right where we should be on this player.”

Dimitroff referred to play acquisition as not being an exact science.

“Anytime that you are looking at players . . . it’s not an exact science,” Dimitroff explained. “We’re all paid to do the best job that we can and again, I rave about our personnel staff . . . the guys work very hard and they are very diligent. Like a lot of staffs in this league, they are very proud about how they approach things. I think there are going to be times when you hit on them and there are going to be times when miss on them. That’s the way it is. As for free agency, our approach this year was to go in and be mindful of where we were. Be mindful of the type players we were looking for. Dan Quinn has been very good with the defensive players he had out in Seattle. He works with all levels. It’s not just the top of the barrel so to speak. He can work with mid-rounders, he can work with (undrafted rookies) and UFAs (unrestricted free agents) that aren’t the highly regarded at least on the books. They come out and play to the best of their ability. Dan is about stressing the positives of a player and not stressing the negatives.”

Jets

Rich Cimini of ESPN New York takes a look at some of the Jets veteran players who could be on the roster bubble in the coming days.

• According to Cimini, New York is likely to keep one of quarterbacks Matt Flynn or Josh Johnson. Cimini wouldn’t be surprised if Johnson beat out Flynn for the job.
• Cimini doesn’t rule out the possibility that the Jets could part ways with WR Jeremy Kerley. Although, he’d be surprised to see them part with Kerley.
• The fact that DE Stephen Bowen is a vested veteran could factor into the Jets’ decision to keep him.
• Cimini still expects the Jets to place RB Stevan Ridley on the PUP list in the coming days.
• Had former first-round CB Dee Milliner been healthy, Cimini believes there would have been a lot of trade talk. However, there’s a chance that the Jets could place him on short-term injured reserve.