AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Because of the year he’s had, it’s unlikely that anything Roger Goodell says in a press conference will be met without a dose of skepticism or criticism. But his worst moment in his pre-Super Bowl press conference on Friday came when Rachel Nichols, who has been one of his toughest interviewers in this season’s Q&A sessions, asked about the league’s problems with the appearance of a conflict of interest and what steps the league could take to prevent that.
It’s a similar question to one she asked about independent investigators looking into the league’s handling of the Ray Rice case, but this time Goodell – who pointed out she has asked a similar question before and so should have at least been prepared for it – came back with a response many found as rude.
First he defended the integrity of the league, then added:
“I think we have had done an excellent job of bringing outside consultants in,” he said. “Somebody has to pay them Rachel. Unless you’re volunteering, which I don’t think you are, we’ll do that.”
If there’s anyone who has benefited greatly from doing their job well during the past year in the NFL, it’s undoubtedly Nichols, who has become a star in each press conference with Goodell. If he’s serious about making the league better, he should welcome her pointed, educated and well-thought out questions. Or at least pretend to. Openly becoming annoyed with her for asking tough questions is perhaps the worst thing that he could have done.
