Report: Roger Goodell’s contract extension being held up by anthem debate

It has been two months since a report surfaced claiming NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was on the verge of signing a contract extension, and the deal has not yet been finalized. Could that have something to do with the ongoing debate surrounding national anthem protests?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was told by sources that Goodell’s extension is still expected to be completed, though the league has been preoccupied with handling the national anthem discussion and the declining television ratings that have come along with it. Schefter reports that there’s a good chance Goodell’s extension would have been finalized at the NFL owners meetings in New York last week had the anthem controversy not dominated the discussions. However, only 20 minutes was spent talking about Goodell’s new deal.

“The anthem issue has overridden everything — and I do mean everything,” a source told Schefter.

If you remember, a report last month indicated Jerry Jones was impeding Goodell’s contract talks for personal reasons. It seems more likely that the discussions have been stalled by talk surrounding anthem protests.

The NFL has enjoyed tremendous growth in Goodell’s time as commissioner, which is the main reason why he is in line for a five-year extension. However, there have been questions about whether he deserves the insane bonus money he has made on top of his base salary of $3 or $4 million a year.