Goodell Won't Give Up Final Say in Discipline Process

Goodell told ESPN Radio on Tuesday the league resists third-party arbitration

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is willing to lessen his role in the player discipline process, but he's still reluctant to give up final say.

Goodell told ESPN Radio on Tuesday the league resists third-party arbitration. The players union wants disciplinary power now held by Goodell to be handled by a neutral arbitrator.

Goodell says he's "very open" to changing his role and calls it "extremely time consuming." He adds that he's discussed this issue with several owners the past couple years.

A federal judge last week overturned Tom Brady's four-game suspension in the "Deflategate" scandal. Afterward, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank suggested it may be time to revisit the system that makes Goodell the sole arbiter of cases.

But Goodell suggests that any change would come in the initial discipline process, not with the way appeals are handled.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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