Roger dodger no more
Commish to attend Pats ’17 opener
PHOENIX — There’s still a little more than five months between now and the Patriots 2017 season opener, which is also the NFL’s kickoff game.
In other words, there’s still time for Roger Goodell to back out. But for now, the commissioner has made a commitment to be in Foxboro. Translation: He’s ready to face the music.
“I plan on being at the kickoff game,” Goodell said yesterday, when asked at the league’s annual spring meeting where he was going to be on Sept. 7.
Well, hallelujah! It seems like Goodell is finally showing some stones. Now we can officially bury the last remnants of Deflategate.
Goodell hadn’t been seen in Foxboro since the ball-deflation scandal started. He attended playoff games in January 2015, when Deflategate took off, and then he took a powder. No Foxboro visits since. Only heavyhanded penalties.
Goodell turned into public enemy No. 1 in New England thanks to putting Tom Brady on ice with an excessive four-game suspension. Many believed the Patriots quarterback was railroaded during the process, which added to the commissioner’s unfavorable rating.
It seemed pretty obvious the NFL’s head honcho was avoiding Gillette Stadium, and hearing the wrath of the fans and fallout of Deflategate for sacking Brady, not to mention docking the team draft picks and fining the organization. Goodell has been on the lam ever since Deflategate went down three years ago.
But with a smile and a nod yesterday, Goodell said he planned on being in attendance.
And yes, he will be welcomed by the team.
On Monday, Patriots owner Robert Kraft indicated having the commissioner in the building would be fine with him.
“Look, he’s commissioner in the league. As we all know, he has the right to go wherever he wishes to go. And if he wanted to come, he’s welcomed to come,” Kraft said. “We’re happy we’ll be celebrating our fifth banner. He can decide whether he wants to be there.”
The point all along was showing his face, and being accountable. It’s tough going in places you’re not wanted, but it’s part of Goodell’s job. That’s what he’s paid millions of dollars by the owners to do. He has to take the heat for unpopular decisions, but he’s been avoiding this one like the plague.
Goodell did not attend the 2015 kickoff game after the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
More recently, he had an opportunity to make an appearance in Foxboro for the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers in January. Instead, he chose to go to the NFC title game, visiting Atlanta for a second straight week.
So Goodell prolonged the suspense. He’s kept this a story. He fanned the flames. He played the part of a scaredy-cat.
Let’s just say it’ll be good to get this part over with, and move on.
Goodell’s coming to Foxboro? Roger that.