Roger Goodell Seeking $50M Per Year & Lifetime Use Of Private Jet In New Deal

Update:

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart “strongly denies” the report that commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract demands in August were for $50 million, plus the perks including lifetime use of a private jet and lifetime health coverage for his family, according to Chris Mortensen.

Mortensen’s original source is still adamant about Goodell’s demands but clarified that the amount in writing was actually $49.5 million, and not $50 million.

Lockhart released the following statement regarding the report to Pro Football Talk:

“The only element of the ESPN report that is true is that there is a regularly scheduled Compensation Committee conference call on Monday. There is no basis in fact for any of the other reporting. Those trying to peddle that nonsense are profoundly misinformed or deliberately trying to mislead.”

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Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that the NFL’s Compensation Committee plans to hold a conference call Monday to discuss and further push ahead with the proposed extension for commissioner Roger Goodell.

According to the report, the committee will address Goodell’s salary and compensation package that included $50 million per year, lifetime use of a private jet and lifetime health insurance for his family.

An NFL owner told ESPN that there are “several owners in this league who don’t make $40 million a year” based on the salaries that owners take.

“That number for Roger just seems too much,” the owner said. “It’s offensive. It’s unseemly.”

One NFL executive told ESPN that the NFL should institute a rule that prohibits Goodell from making more than the league’s highest-paid player.

While Goodell is obviously looking for a huge compensation package to continue as the league’s commissioner, sources told Schefter and Mortensen that they don’t believe Goodell would actually walk away if they didn’t agree to his demands.

“Roger is defiant,” one NFL owner said. “He’s not going to resign; he’s not going to take a pay cut. He can stand to show some humility, but he won’t listen to staff.”

Other owners point out that negotiations have shifted away from what should be the main focus.

“The problem is, no one is talking about games anymore,” one owner told ESPN. “It’s about concussions, Jones vs Goodell, Zeke, the anthem. No one is talking about football. It’s just killing the game.”

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Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports is reporting that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is being urged by many close to him to sign the contract extension and put this matter behind him.

According to La Canfora, Goodell’s contract was drawn up by lawyers weeks ago and with all key negotiations essentially complete.

However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been leading a crusade to halt an extension and change it to more of an incentive-based deal. Jones has gone as far to threaten to sue the Compensation Committee, led by Falcons owner Arthur Blank, over the matter.

Although, La Canfora says that Jones’ threats have little merit within league circles, especially when you consider that he was among those who voted unanimously to extend Goodell’s deal this spring.

There are concerns from the NFL about facing backlash from politicians including president Donald Trump once Goodell signs a new extension.

While a report from earlier in the week surfaced that Goodell was “furious” over the structure of his new deal, sources have told La Canfora that this isn’t the fact and talks between the Compensation Committee and Goodell’s representatives went smoothly as expected.

Some of the issues that have come up during extension talks, according to La Canfora, have actually been related to the size, scope and compensation of many other high-ranking league employees, which is reportedly a long a simmering issue within the league.

There are other concerns such as player protests, ratings and the quality of play, but the NFL’s business is still considered robust.

According to La Canfora, some in the NFL office anticipate Goodell’s contract situation finally being resolved before Thanksgiving.

Goodell was expected to sign a new five-year extension that would keep him in place as the commissioner through the 2024 season and extend his run to 19 years. However, there doesn’t appear to have been much progress made on the topic.

Goodell, 58, was hired as the NFL’s commissioner in 2006, replacing Paul Tagliabue. His contract was extended in 2009 and again in 2012.

During his first 10 years as commissioner, Goodell earned $212.5 million including nearly $32 million in the 2015 fiscal year.

We’ll have more regarding Goodell as the news is available.