Goodell’s Press Conference Still in Smaller Quarters, Big Topics Loom

NEW ORLEANS — Roger Goodell meets the media later Monday afternoon in the New Orleans Saints locker room at the Caesars Superdome. This is the second year in a row his annual press conference is on a Monday, after residing on Wednesday, and then years earlier on Friday.

It’s also moved from large ballrooms to the constrained locker room quarters. Some believe the changes are a way to minimize the press conference. The media needs an extra credential to gain access to the event, and those are limited. There were about 125 reporters at last year’s event, and the turnout is expected to be similar this year.

The NFL says the move is intended to put the media focus on the players all week, not to shield the boss from unfriendly fire. 

What Will Goodell Be Asked?

The following topics will likely surface Monday:

• NFL’s push for an 18th regular-season game
• Moving some regular-season games and playoff games to streamers
• Rooney Rule compliance
• New kickoff formation
• Prospects for an international Super Bowl

The NFL will sometimes use the press conference to break news, like the teams for an overseas game or a new media initiative (if that happens look for the news to be selectively leaked shortly before the presser). 

But by and large, the goal is not for Goodell to make news, such as the time he said sitting on a couch was more dangerous than playing football (his not invalid point was the country has an obesity problem, but the commissioner’s phrasing didn’t play well).